Experements 2

Game of Cards

Experiments

I decided to film toys, games and television screens as I feel these objects would have a strong connection to most peoples childhood memories and therefore have a feeling of nostalgia.

After seeing the work of artists such as Annette Messanger and Sophie Calle I wanted my films to reflect the torment of childhood they portray. I would like my films to have a deeper meaning than just happy little memories. Being a child can be traumatic, but do we forget this over time? Hopefully by using lighting and angles I can change the meaning of the objects I'm recording.

The Pinewoods

I wanted to film in a different environment than the previous shoot to see if it would be more successful... or perhaps it would be interesting to juxtapose them to contrast with each other.











Unfortunately a few of the films from this shoot will not upload... I'll try again soon.

Helpful doodles

I like to make notes on little pieces of paper... here are some plans for my film




I have also made some sketches of possible layouts for my film and installation piece.








Ways of hanging objects from beams...

First Films

I have combined sound recordings from my dictaphone with videos. I purchased a tripod so camera would remain still at the right level, and I am happy with the results. These films were recorded around my home town, so they hold lots of memories for me, however, I'm not sure how nostalgic they would be to other people.

Here are a few of the films I recorded on this walk...

The Wolstenholme Space

Today we visited Wolstenholme where I managed to take some photographs of the Wolstenholme exhibition space, however for some reason they will not upload from my phone to my computer. When I work out how to do this I will put them on my blog, but until then I'm afraid all I can do is describe it to you.

It's quite an unconventional gallery space because of its rustic qualities. Its a bit rough on the edges, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge of presenting my work in such an unusual space. Let's face it, there are not many opportunities to present your work in any gallery, never mind one with as much character as this one. However, because there is so much going on in the space itself, my work will have to suit the environment its in, rather than the normal clinical gallery situation, where the art creates the atmosphere.

There are working electric sockets, so my idea of a film projection should not be affected in that sense, but many of the walls are textured, which will distort the projection to a certain extent. This could actually turn out to be beneficial to the work, as memories of nostalgia will fade or distort over time. So I might request for my work to be presented on one of these walls.

I could have problems hanging objects from the ceiling as there are no hooks or attatchments but I was told I would be allowed to use the beams. Perhaps I could design a frame to hang objects from which will use the beams as support.

So far I don't think there will be any problems that can't be sorted exhibiting in the Wolstenholme space. I'll keep you updated on new developments as they arise.

Choosing Places

Before I begin filming I need to know where and what to film. I went on a short walk around my village to find places with interesting compositions and nostalgia.


I really like the lighting and long shadows of the photograph below. Also the road sign gives more character and possibly nostalgia.






I will definitely revisit this spot for filming, as I find the curved trees a really interesting focal point. It's reminiscent of the secret gardens or climbing trees as a child.



I think the railway station might be interesting to film because of its sounds and busy nature.







I find this distant view of the estate appealing because it is nostalgic. It's a place where children could play but also stay in sight of the house. Just like our mums told us.



Household objects might be interesting to film too.

An introduction to the 'Touched' project

Hi everyone!

Firstly, thanks for checking out my blog. I’m a Fine Art student studying at Liverpool JMU. This blog was created as a means of recording the progress of my current film project, but if all goes well I may continue with this for future projects too. Any advice or thoughts, good or bad, would be much appreciated, as I’ve never attempted a film art piece, nor a blog for that matter.

The theme of this project is ‘Touched’, the same as this years upcoming Liverpool Biennial. Sixteen of the first year students are working alongside the Wolstenholme Projects company (11 Wolstenholme Square) for the Biennial, and will have an exhibition in late April.

What I like about the theme ‘touched’ is that the word has several meanings to work with. So hopefully the exhibition will be quite diverse. It could allow us to work with physical touch, sexual touch, touched in the head (lunacy and mental states). I however, would like to explore the emotional sense of the word by giving my work a sense of nostalgia. I will make use of sentimental objects or memories of people, objects and places. At the moment I imagine my work will be in the form of a film, possibly combined with installation.

Several artists have influenced my work to get to this point.

Joseph Cornell’s boxes have a strong sense of nostalgia. He would carefully juxtapose found objects from charity shops and jumble sales in glass fronted boxes. His lack of personal attachment to his props means that his creations are quite abstract and helps to trigger the memories of other people.

Cornell’s Aviaries series is my personal favourite. Perhaps it is because it triggers memories of my own porcelain bird collection. They bring forward old memories.

I was lucky enough to visit the Venice Biennial in 2009, where I saw the work of Steve McQueen in the British Pavilion. I found his piece Giardini really incredible. It was a two screened, 30 minute film, depicting the famous Giardini gardens in mid-winter.

I felt that, although his chosen media was film, which can be a cold, detaching and unforgiving media, there was so much life and depth to the work. The transitions between night and day, sights and sounds, man and nature, even the changes in the weather all absorb the viewer and make his film an experience. If you closed your eyes the sounds alone would be enough to make you feel as though you were there, and if you opened them again, all the textures of the Pavillions’ walls, due drops on grass and glistening of the occasional beetle’s wings were as clear as day.

Another aspect I admired about his filming technique was his choice to keep the camera perfectly still. One would think that a static camera would give a cold impersonal feel, however I believe in this case it achieved the opposite. There was so much movement in McQueen’s chosen settings, and yet if the camera itself was moving the viewers could miss this. By detaching himself from the process he has allowed the viewers to connect with the places more. We are given no real focal point, and so each viewer interprets his work in a different way. The combination of the two neighbouring films strengthens this. The contrast of magnification, colours, etc between films gives the piece as a whole a constant stream new interesting events and focal points.

Other artists whose work has inspired me for this project are, Annette Messanger, Sophie Calle, David Lynch's 'Interview Projects' and director Jean-Paul Jeunet.

I intend to keep uploading my films and ideas onto this blog to record this project progress and changes.