Review time



 

 

At this time of year a mid session review takes place, in the format of an informal meeting to discuss work so far and plans for the future.

 

Some people find this time quite stressful, having to explain themselves and being forced to reflect on their practice. However, it seems like a natural thing to do - reflect and plan and do, like a constant. It can be quite difficult to articulate thoughts and have a discussion which reflects this though. Alternative methods of critique could be used, but I believe being active in the process not just obliges you to express what your thoughts are but to really reflect on how you want to present them and be able to have some dialogue around it.

 

In preparation, I did a bit of a clear out in the studio space and selected a number of key images I wanted to talk about. Even the act of clearing out helps the process of deciding just what you want to talk about and how you will do it. Editing and selecting a limited number of works rather than having everything on show also refines the aesthetic.

 

Talking about your work can be hard but like most things it gets easier the more you do it and the better prepared you are. I feel as if the actual act of planning has become quite important in relation to the body of work that even planning for this kind of thing is necessary and feels as if it is another step in the process, where everything is linked.

 

 

Studio space, tidy, clean.

 

 

there is a lot more work to do but it is a good place to be in, knowing this and having time to decide on what to do next and how to do it.

 

Kms run last week : 30

Books on loan from the library : 19

 

Project Space

After further exploring a more installative approach in the recent exhibition, I spent time doing similar in a smaller space. The idea to investigate the use of a space and a variety of line and space/form combinations with more materials and this time incorporating smaller works into the made space.

Whilst the exhibition was a more considered response, this became more intuitive, with time to spend on different arrangements and groupings of things.

Adding in some patterned elements, alongside simple colour blocks and different surfaces. Just playfully putting great things together.

 

Using the space to its best advantage, in a way that fills it appropriately - similar to composing a canvas on a frame.

 

 

Pairing images together, not planned but with what appears to look right.

Putting pieces of finished and unfinished work into the composition. On reflection, it seems as if it should be planned more - be more obvious. It is not a decorative aspect but part of the piece and this should come across as a deliberate thing. Worth trying however.

 

Colour is one of the most important aspects of the aesthetic in my practice. I really enjoy how colour just seems to work, or get stuck in my mind and comes together - as above, two separately made/bought items happen to just fit, and the lines from the floor another serendipity.

So another engaging few days on which to reflect - what now/next? How to further develop this way of working, in relation to what I want to achieve from the work. This time of year now is concerned with a mid session review, which seems to have come at a good time - a reflective moment to put my ideas and plans together for the coming months.


Kms run last week: 34
Books on loan from the library: 12, editing process of dissertation begun

Flatpack Exhibition

This week saw a group of 5 final year students taking part in a pop-up exhibition.

We took the name from idea of something being put together quickly, which was our intention for this exhibition, to put it up in one day, have an opening event, and take it down the next. Although it was a short lived thing, I did plan a fair bit before. This was definitely helpful when it came to installing as I knew more or less what I was going to do and in what order. Only a few details remained to be sorted out in the doing. This has been a most helpful experience in planning and deciding what to put where, not just for an installation piece but for a show with others.

We spent most of the day putting the exhibition together, but at a fairly leisurely pace, helping out each other in the hanging and making decisions.

 

The space at first appeared quite large but we had plenty work between all of us to be able to choose and edit as we went along. The hardest part was probably dealing with the cold - an unheated venue in winter is probably not the best choice to make! However, overall the installation turned out more or less how I expected and worked well in the space it was in. Perhaps some of the works we all showed did not work well together or communicate as well as they could have and its worth noting that the decision to show together was taken a few month ago and its a point to show how quickly focus can change.

 

Another busy two weeks ahead with essay redrafts and end of semester crits, and a lot of thinking to do with where to go now with this work.

 

Kms run this week: 25ish

Books on loan from the library: 15?