15-04-18
Arising Ideas
- Handbags - woman weighed down by baggage
- Holding hands - to pursue led v lead
- Speaking - Sound installation inspired by Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition at The Barbican 2014 / Babel 2001 by Cildo Meireles and Rose Finn-Kelsey's sound installation and 'Divided Self (Speaker’s Corner), 1974 is a pre-photoshop black and white photograph of herself sitting on a park bench – talking to herself. The idea is incredibly simple, yet it continues to resonate across the decades because it encapsulates the experience of being a woman at a time when female voices usually went unheard' -[accessed - https://theartsdesk.com/visual-arts/rose-finn-kelcey-life-belief-and-beyond-modern-art-oxford-review-revelation-and-delight]
- Double exposure portraits and mouths
- Male delivered information v female delivered information - research and evidence
- Sign Post v Flag - the visual footage brought back into the arena by Mhairi Black of the SNP, “Tony Benn once said that in politics there are weathercocks and signposts,” she said. “Weathercocks will spin in whatever direction the wind of public opinion may blow them. And then there are signposts, which stand true, and tall, and principled. And they point in the direction and they say, This is the way to a better society and it is my job to convince you why. Tony Benn was right when he said the only people worth remembering in politics were signposts.” Mhairi Black joins the list of women who suffer daily misogynist abuse for having a job where her voice is heard. Rose Finn-Kelsey - 'Here is a Gale Warning'
- Research figure painting - suggestions of Rose Wylie and Keith Vaughan
Wonder Women Triptych
Visual analysis of the paintings by Botticelli in the National Gallery was made in an attempt to understand the detail, stylisation and content of the painting from this particular time in art history.
The time factor of completing the work meant that they had to reach a point whereby they could be exhibited and then submitted but they remain work in progress.
As the paintings were developed the skin colour was changed to reflect unspecific ethnicity but with an emphasis on being ethnically diverse. This meant that the hair styles changed from the exhibition to final submission. The use of the laurel leaves had to be adapted many times from the scale to the style they were painted in. The continuity of the landscape needed to respond throughout the triptych, but hopefully contain enough visual interest to be a standalone piece as well. Additional time would have allowed for greater fragility in the painting of the toes and fingers to create a more classical feel along with additional detailing into the stone pillar and background.
Exhibiton at Ickworth House, Horringer, Suffolk
Saturday 14th/ Sunday 15th April 2018
15-03-18
The idea of using a triptych enabled diversity of women and poses. It
enabled a stronger sense of the concept whereby three women were in the act of
speech. Three is referred to as a magic number? The Three Graces
by Antonio Canova epitomise female beauty. The Three Graces,
celebrated in classical literature and art, were the daughters of Jupiter (or
Zeus in Greek mythology), and companions to the Muses. Thalia (youth and
beauty) is accompanied by Euphrosyne (mirth), and Aglaia (elegance).
Domestic Role for Sale
'mopping'
'folding'
'vacuuming inverted'
'vacuuming'
'detail of ironing'
unfinished ' ironing'
This work was influenced by a lecture given by Charlotte Hodes whose own work is based in pattern in combination with the female form. Ideas arising included digital prints onto kitchen ware, laser cut doilies, stencil prints...
Exploration of sublimation printing onto net curtain to further explore the domestic setting, textiles, interiors enabled a visualisation of the gender imbalance of the domestic role. The green colour is again to reference that this is the unseen, unpaid labour usually performed by women - chromakey or green screen.
FOR SALE
20% Share Available
Domestic Role
The intention was to explore a way to exhibit the domestic imbalance in a home setting. The sign was to invite discourse with a live email address advertised e: domesticrole4sale@gmail.com
Frustratingly the sign was removed or stolen and only verbal feedback was captured whereby an unknown neighbour commented that a discussion about the work in her home had caused some concern that this was about modern day slavery.
Perfect House
The angles show the development of how to angle to roof so that it would fit together.
A trial on a plain cut green house enabled this problem to be solved and practised.
The idea behind the perfect house was again to reference the ancient Greeks, myths and representation of the gods and also people .
To question the idea of the ‘perfect house’ and a women’s domestic role and creation of an ‘ideal perfect home’. By using the laser cutter to cut out the shapes of the woman cleaning and folding my intention is to replicate the idea of a frieze and the creation of a 'childlike dream home'. The light inside is to represent the moment of understanding the female self sacrifice of motherhood once a child is born. The simplistic house is childlike, small and one a child might draw if asked to draw a house - like a dolls house.
The East West Pediment of the Parthenon
Grayson Perry - First Site Gallery
Grayson Perry's house - A maquette for the Shrine to Julie was also an inspiration and influence for my own acrylic 'Perfect House'
Guardian Newspaper
Rachel Whiteread's Dolls House
11-03-18
Ideas leading to 'Perfect House': Shrine / Stained glass effect but
using clay instead of glass / metal frame / triptych?
Using the technique of stained glass to lead together shapes made from
white porcelain. The porcelain would enable the use of light. Why use clay?
Clay/ceramic is generally viewed as 'female' art.
08-03-18
Art and Activism
If I had more time I think I could be an activist but
until that time I will continue to make art.
The Dialogue Lectures were very inspirational and encouraging to know there are people passionate enough to act.
Clare Carolin who described herself as an accidental activist had worked on a campaign to prevent the gentrification of her area in London which would create unaffordable housing within a community. She recognised that part of her activism stemmed from the need to protect her community for her child; was encouraged by her role as a mother and indeed the driving force behind the activism were three mothers and Clare's husband, a stay at home dad. Part of the campaign included the generation of a myth surrounding the land that the new development was built upon so that when potential customers searched to find out about the building new literature would feature surrounding the address of EC1. Writers had been asked to create horror stories that would circulate a bad vibe about the area, whereby a 'new' myth would be created in the hope that it would ward off potential sales of the luxury flats.
This iteration of writing a new myth/story/legend made it clear that the idea of re-writing the Greek mythologies could work.
Art used as a vehicle to question power - critical approach to enable a critical mass.
Dissemination
Consider finding a story around a location / reference to local people / display space - library / Leaflets - booklets - pamphlets
Consider using discarded household objects/ ceramics?
Consider using a metaphor?
Record / Write / Describe
IDEAS;
Reference to Judy Chicago's Dinner Party
Digital prints onto kitchenware / Ceramic transfers
Doilies - laser cut - dinner set - tea set
Selma James - 'Wages for Housework' Campaign.
"Things cannot go on the way they are. Every woman knows that."
Written in 1952.
Looking at Martha Rosler - 'Cleaning the Drapes' [pamphlets to distribute critical awareness]
Disrupted Domesticity - Recipe leaflets - Kitchen Leaflets - Disobedient Domesticity - Aesthetic Domestic Disruption
08-03-18
Women uniting as a critical mass to initiate change.
The #MeToo: hashtag has become a current uprising of women against men where they have suffered from sexual harassment.
'Greenham Common Peace Protest'
This unusual and extraordinary protest which lasted for 19 years saw women from all over the UK maintaining a singularly and determined protest against nuclear missiles and weapons of mass destruction. It became a home to many women for astonishing lengths of time and some of the demonstrations contained 30,000 women.
It began in 1981 and was finally disbanded in 2000.
06-03-18
Back to Kitchens
kitchen- cupboard - space
saucepans / utensils / cutting boards / bowls / cutlery / plates / kettle / cups / ingredients / toaster / radio / pestle and mortar / sink / washing up bowl
flowers - hub - nourish - care - tend
Experimentation in porcelain clay using acrylic stamps to create motifs into the clay. The acrylic stamps were made from isolating objects found within the 'sent' kitchen photographs. Ideas around creating a lamp - the idea of 'waking up' and realising the assignment of a cultural domestic role only with arrival of a child.
Using the image of a baby in addition to selecting objects taken from
the photographs of kitchens that people sent to me; block shapes with some
engraved detail were cut from acrylic to make stamps. Experimentation of
pressing these into porcelain clay was trialled to see whether it was
possible to develop this further using ceramic to reference kitchenware.
a light-bulb moment...
02-03-18
A development in the production of the Wonder Women triptych is to paint the women in the act of speaking to further reference the silencing of women. I will use the mouths from Diane Abbott, Gina Miller and Mary Beard and superimpose these onto the faces of my models. I will use the laurel leaf as a symbol to represent the story of Daphne that reads as a rape story. In a new story, Apollo hears Daphne's voice and does not pursue or attack her further. As a result she does not have to be transformed into a laurel tree to be saved and reclaims the laurel as her own symbolism.The central figure holds up a sign in Greek that says 'muthos' (mythos)
ΜYθος
Mary Beard writes that 'muthos' references male authoritative speech and that in the 'new' story we hear a woman's voice.
Woman are not silenced and own their own voice.
26-02-18
Having photo-shopped the heads of three significant women in the public domain that included Diane Abbott and Gina Miller I realised that in order to use these as imagery I must obtain permission. I included graffiti to hide their nudity and I discussed this with a number of artists about the the appropriation and creation of these images. The images were seen as discomforting as the women were known. Confusion about how the images could be misused if they entered the public domain. It was felt that the images with graffiti detracted and confused the message.
Did I really need to use known women as this was the main problem arising. The images were provocative and disturbing.
My decision is to revert back to using the original three models.
22-02-18
Wonder Woman Development
New ideas from starting off using the same pose and the same model is to consider how to represent women from culturally different ethnicities to deviate from the 'white' female. Exploring using different models and also look at women who used their voices and suffer misogyny from being in the public eye.
Women to consider include Diane Abbott, Hilary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Benazir Bhutto, Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel, Gina Miller, Mary Beard...
These women represent a global change rather than a 'white' only representation.
Distribution via pamphlets / newspaper / magazine to create discourse into society using these women to re-write Greek Myths and the misogyny within.
I will look at Greek Myths including lectures by Mary Beard, classics including a recent re-write by Stephen Fry.
Look up artists in dialogue with the classical world - Dante, Raphael, Shakespear, Edward Gibbon, Pablo Picasso, Eugene O'Neill, Terence Rattigan.
19-02-18
Idea to re-write historical painting / literature
Wonder Woman
- Inspired by Botticelli's portrayal of the 'Birth of Venus' and archetypal representation of female beauty. 1445, Florence Italy - Renaissance.
- The background to the paintings should be of a classical nature to base the 'new imagery' into domesticity.
- Idea to re-write the story of Medusa and Athena, whereby the misogyny experienced from both a man and a woman is changed - Athena does not punish Medusa and instead supports her so she is not turned into the gorgon.
- Painting is a male dominated arena, therefore by producing an image using this media further challenges the patriarchal domain.
- The three life paintings of each woman will fill and dominate the space and will not be traditionally feminine in terms of their pose.
16-02-18
As part of my research I asked people on fb to send over photographs of their kitchens in different states, clean, tidy, busy, messy.... Interestingly it was only women who responded to this request and sent in images. I was interested in people selecting their choice of image to send, did this reflect culture or our expectation.
My question is 'who is in the kitchen'?
I realised that the discourse must always include the arrival of children to signify the beginning of the female sacrifice and protection of others' over the self.
Handbags / baggage / bags as weights / bronze casting
Problems arising are in recognition of the sociological and cultural roles at a personal level. Are our choices a culturally embedded choice in terms of our roles, do women choose their domesticity?
I must ensure that the communication of each piece of work is clearly articulated in regards to the history and reason for its production.
Interested in the work of Judy Chicago's Dinner Party whereby she uses female artistry such as needlework and ceramic painting.
Hegemony - Authority - Resistance
Explore macro - micro scale
A development of the Wonder Woman statements into a poster style output. I will extend to see whether image is necessary to develop this further to strengthen the statements.
Sample Film
15-02-18
From today's tutorial I realise that I am not clear in my articulation of a part or one piece of my work. I have been able to discuss the context of the whole, but the dialogue that describes and surrounds the individual components must be supported with further research and clear understanding.
Collection of quantitative data.
Ideas - to create opportunities to re-domesticate visual historical information through popular culture - comics / manga / social digital media / radio / television / community hubs / leisure spaces / retail outlets / fashion...
children - parenthood - mothering
vulnerability / loss of power and wealth / guilt / meeting expectations / nurture / sacrifice / home centred / loss of identity
Kitchen becomes the hub of the home
Question - 'Who is in the kitchen'?
'rose colour kitchens'
These are a selection of kitchen photographs sent in from people - all women - from a request using social media to see if the selection of images could be put to use to visualise domestic discourse.
07-02-15
Mind map for ASU2
Motifs associated with women in power; Margaret Thatcher's handbag, Theresa May's Kitten heels, Mary Beard's blue stockings.
Versace - Medusa image
This motif is a successful reclamation of the Medusa image within popular culture.
The image of a powerful woman has to change / be constructed/ The use of the Medusa woman has yet to change.
The image of the gorgon / the severed Medusa head has become so domesticated within our visual history raises the question of how can this imagery be re-domesticated / changed or re-written.
Women supporting other women - the creation for opportunities of a critical mass.
Is positive discrimination beneficial for women? women only lists?
Ideas - to create opportunities to re-domesticate visual historical information through popular culture - comics / manga / social digital media / radio / television / community hubs / leisure spaces / retail outlets / fashion...
Identifying platforms / space
Gallery / Social Media / Public / Publications / Private / Educational Establishments / Community / Corporate / Moving (lorries, buses etc...) / Outer / Broadcasting / Performance
Discourse
Curation / Conversation / Reflective Journal / Audience / Participation / Invited Audience / Private View
Tactics / Strategies / Methodologies
Commissions / Residencies / Prizes / Competitions / Context / Focus / Seminars / Promotional Materials / Applications
08-02-18
Kitchens;
Is it still the domain of the female in the home?
Wonder Woman
'You are wonder woman'
'Am I wonder woman?'
'I am wonder woman'
'You must be wonder woman'
'She is a wonder woman'
The wonder woman comment is something given to any woman who does more than her assumed role - being more or in fact desiring more than being a mother/worker.
Ideas arising...
'photograph life model as 'Wonder Woman'
Who are seen as wonder women in society today? Angela Merkel, Hillary Clinton, Theresa May... Powerful Women.
08-02-18
08-02-18
08-02-18
'experimental work surrounding ideas about holding hands'
Are we led? Should we lead?
Led v Lead
Question around holding hands - the way we hold hands means that we are either led or we lead. By changing the way I hold hands with my husband did not feel natural or normal - he felt that he was being led about - was not comfortable and even self conscious? WHY?
07-02-18
Idea: use of collage to visualise ideas
ACTION: Photograph or ask people to photograph their kitchens or different points / times of the day.
Build into the learning agreement a more clearly identified space where work could be displayed e.g. kitchen showrooms
Work printed onto kitchen cabinet doors? Painted onto a kitchen unit?
Consider the audience - who will see the work?
Trial Power Point as a method to make a film on dust.
Globes / kitchen / chandelier / arc lams / domestic interior / dust film / dolls house to represent the domestic world...
01-02-18
Display and Exhibition
'The rise of the feminine voice in contemporary sculpture corresponds to an increase in the anti-monuments in public spaces' (Moszynska,p.213, 2013)
Corex Board - for sale signs? Digital print output and record the for sale sign in location?
SCULPTURE NOW - Anna Moszunska [Thames and Hudson]
Rebecca Warren - SHE 2003
Ai Wei Wei - Descending Light 2007
Kim Soojah - Bottari Truck - Migrateurs 2007
Tracey Emin - Baby Things - 2008
Pipilotti Rist 2010 - Massachusetts Chandelier
Susan Hiller - Witness 2000
Cerith Wyn Evans - 'Diary: How to improve the world (you will only make matters worse) - 1968 (2008) chandelier
Angela Bulloch - Fundamental Discord 2005 Cubes
Yue Minjun - Chinese Contemporary Warriors, 2005
Ideas from Cerith Wyn Evans - laser cut text to form lamps / chandeliers / boards etc...
24-01-18
Power and Identity
Gender - an understanding of how to present and enable renewed dialogue around the issues of gender and a woman's place that does not present as victim. It is my aim to explore ;power' through identity and understand how gender roles have been created and may be disrupted for the future.
FOR SALE: I will sell my assigned gender role and buy a new contract for a new millennia (or three thousand years dated from the silencing of woman in Western text - Homer's Odyssey) and teach my children new roles.
19-01-18
Gender Bias
'a lesson to my daughters'
This work completes a set of digital prints around the theme of 'gender bias' and how I have culturally and unwittingly perhaps contributed to gender bias in my own family and for my own daughters. The images comment on the idea of motherhood as an ideal arising very early on in childhood, domesticity through play and elements of beauty and female adornments such high heeled shoes and handbags. This work is to recognise this insidious gender stereotyping and reteach my daughters. Should I apologise?
RESEARCH
The Second Sex - Simone de Beauvoir
Of Woman Born (1976); Motherhood as an Institution and Experience by Adrienne Rich
'All human ife on the planet is born of woman' (Rich, p. 16)
'Let us no longer be regarded as the preservers of the speices. We give children to no=one, neither to man nor to the state. We give them to themselves and give ourselves back to ourselves'(Rich, p17,)
19-01-18
Qu - 'why is motherhood represented by women artists for nearly one hundred years after the beginning of the twentieth century as a trap and a prison and seldom as a joy and liberation?' (Gioni, p.22)
Further questions and extension from domesticity into an examination of 'motherhood' - is it the precise moment of combining 'convention', 'gender roles', ' motherhood, that overtakes joy of being a mother as finding oneself taking on the individually assigned gender role.
19-01-18
Ideas Factory UX Lab - Beth Sowerby - Idea to discover technology to action an artwork to build up as accumulating dust by eye sensor?
Hearing a woman's voice - Mary Beard - Explore sound installations?
Complete a series on gender bias - A Lesson to my Daughters - use of the family archive. Research and understand gender education - how, where, why?
18-01-18
IDEAS
1. digital dust - eye trigger additions to output
2. Domestic Hoovering - Joy Division - the division of labour within the home in new millennia...
3. Gender Bias series
4. Re-role reversal - investigate and re-write the elements of the 'moment' women became slaves to the 'ideal home'
5. Experiment with digital print and painting from life paintings.
6. Plan how to enlarge sculptures / women / lamps
7. Beauty? Look up Dave Beech
8. Herland - A land without men
9. Violence - Gender difference / sex difference
10. The Kitchen - A theatre space
11-01-18
ASU2 - Reflective Journal
