(I refer to dissertation notes in this page as my dissertation relates to the Subject work I have made this year.)
2.) My Ideas explained by Inspiration from my artist Research
3.) Colleen Wallace Nungari and Dreamtime
4.) Context Proposal – Ekeko, Diego Rivera, Mexican Votive paintings etc.
This year my work has been an exploration of the disturbing visual imagery I have experienced in dreams. My project also includes strange visual imagery which I have experienced in my normal, waking state, and because of this mixing of the surreal and the real I have managed to create a rather eclectic collection of works.
The images shown in my work are characters whom I have either dreamed about or seen in real life, therefore one of the most important elements within my project has been the mysterious underlying narrative which runs through it.
I have taken on the idea of these characters possessing their own unique powers, or perhaps they represent minor deities, really it is up to the viewer to decide. Overall, my work is rather open and leaves a lot to the imagination of the viewer.
Inspired by Mexican votive paintings, I have spent time considering different stories relating to the characters and have incorporated small poems into the sculptures. I intend for my sculptures to be picked up and handled as I want my dreams to become all the more real for others to experience as well.
Field project 1 was not quite as obviously influential to my work as project 2 but it is definitely responsible for the change in attitude I needed in order to turn my work around and see it come to full fruition.
My project 1 final piece was a sound installation, which has been one of my bravest moves since I came to university, as I am predominantly a painter who occasionally dabbles in model making. Creating ‘sonic art’ was something I was always interested in; – the line between music and art and how artists have found ways to connect the two – therefore I thought this was the perfect opportunity to learn some things about recording.
‘Language Environments’ was still fairly early on in the year and therefore I was still grappling with ideas on what kind of work to create towards the end of year assessment. I gained so much confidence from experimenting outside my comfort zone and having so much positive feedback that I knew I needed to take charge this way in my Subject work as well. So overall, Field project 1 gave me the push I needed to simply just get things done and to not be intimidated by new ideas and processes. It didn’t take long before I realised I was wasting time trying to force myself to make the work I thought I should be making instead of the work I wanted to make. Field project 2 simply gave me the fresh new ideas I needed to inspire me.
I had the confidence, next I needed the subject matter to fuel me, which I got from the inspiring talks from Robert Pepperell’s lectures in ‘Art and the Conscious Mind’. It was a lot to take in, and in a rather short space of time, personally I am not familiar with quantum physics at all, but I got a taste of it in these lectures. This sort of information was not necessarily helpful to my specific practise, but it was just interesting, and it is important to have this kind of thought provoking discussion whilst studying Fine Art.
I decided to turn my work around and basically, sculpt and paint about my dreams. I was worrying about the change being too sudden and therefore losing marks in the end assessment. But after much consideration about what was more important, I came to the conclusion that I had enough time to justify the change in my work and make lots of it. It was so inspiring to be surrounded by like minded peers in Robert’s group that I was certain I would delve deep into whatever I decided to do with my work, as long as it related to the mind.
I am really keen to make more sound art in the future, and I am writing my dissertation about the combination of dreams, the mind and art, therefore I think it is fair to say that both Field projects have hit some kind of sweet spot in terms of my own style and practise.
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