Mark- More work from me.

Click on the images to make them larger.

Mark-Work update

These are work in progress candidates for the degree show. At the moment they are early versions, I'll be using a better editing program next time round. I think they need music so I have added some music to one to see if it successful or not. They represent the movement and heat of the strange sun reflective shapes I photographed. As I say they are by no means finished.

Keeping you up to date,

I know I've not put much on here or written in a while, but I'm having endless arguments with myself about my work.

Starting off thinking I'm studying 'Femininity' and that it should end up as a simple exploration and documentation of this was a little silly really. Femininity is so much more. I've begun an essay styled written piece to share my findings and to also help my own understanding. My work has now developed into 'What makes a woman feminine?'. This means I'm not eliminating the understanding that femininity can be applied to males and objects etc. I'm still working with knickers but now taking inspiration from the the channel 4 show Embarrassing Bodies and the ways in which Women are both similar and different, exploring the differences in what can make a woman feminine.

Understanding (finally) the concept of 'subject' and 'object', I'm trying to realise a way of displaying these knickers that crosses between subject and object and is aware if the male gaze as an audience.

I hope this makes sense, I'll keep you posted again soon!

Leigh

Egg Shell White Acrilic

I've been working on some more digital pieces for my project.

I've used the idea of being out in nature, or being outside and feeling trapped.

The bird cages symbolise my safe place, my house, where I feel the most comfortable and not anxious. I have left the cage door open to show that I do have a way out...but even though I am free, I feel trapped in my own home because of my anxiety.

The exit sign has also been added to my images to show that there is a way out for me.

Rewind...

I've been re-evaluating my work and i've started thinking about maybe moving away from the mobiles/hanging the cranes off the tree and start thinking about mood and colour again. I've been editing some images and planning some portrait photographs which i can later manipulate. I haven't let go of the cranes altogether, i've just been thinking about less literal and less cliche ways of trying to get my point across. Hopefully 6 weeks will be long enough :S

Just thought I'd add an update of image experimentation to here.

After my review with John and Peter I feel more positive with my signs work, exit signs, bus signs, general everday signs, etc...

I've got a few images here that I've experimented with using different layers and adding my own paintings to them. I'm going to change opacity and create some more interesting pieces that I have in my head at the moment and I'll add them to here when I've done so.

Hi All, Some of you my know from the review, im at a bit of cross roads with my work at the moment. Im trying a few new things out, i'll put up some images as soon as i get them, hopefully soon. :)

This year my work is based on the idea of bringing imagination and reality together. Last semester I began making a series of drawings from observation of a room, I then brought in elements of imaginary objects into the drawings. These being an imaginary chandelier, chair and rug.
During the beginning of this semester I became particularly interested in the chandelier and the qualities it held, I began making simplified studies of the pieces of glass and began creating patterns out of the object and the light it creates. Recently I have been interested in the idea of emerging the pattern studies with the reality studies of the room. This has proved to be interesting so far with imaginary elements, reality elements and abstraction brought together.

My work this year is about the space between people. Last semesters work consisted mainly of research drawing and a body of text, aiming to develop concepts. This semester I am realising these concepts. Working on the ideas between the space between people, I began to look at the spaces within my own life, that occur through living half the week in Liverpool and half the week in North Wales. This idea of space and distance gave me ideas about duality and tandem, to create an object that is part of a pair, or one half of itself, existing in spaces separated between distance, questioning if either is a whole, and exploring the dynamic of connection that is integral to each objects existence.
The object I’ve begun to make is a human form, because I like the visual power that the form holds, the way it evokes empathy in human emotions. I have been working on the frame, the skeleton of this form for the last few weeks, using copper piping, and other plumber’s tools. This required learning plumbers skills, such as a blow torch. The effects cause by the blow torch on the copper are also informing my painting palette. The basis of the coppers skeleton is mostly complete, I am now working on details of the skeleton with wire and soldier, working towards fleshing out area of the body with builders plaster.

These are a few updated pieces I've been working on.

The top images are what I have based most of my anxiety paintings on. Branches in place of nerves by using the twisting twigs.

The bottom image is named "Anxiety during travel" which is to show my anxiety problems as I travel to university by train.

xxx

New concept for Show/Update

Unfortunately the leaflet idea isn't going as well as I had expected, it seems ineffectual without something interesting backing it up. So I am putting that on the back burner for the moment, I may just make a flyer instead to inform people of my work but we'll see about that.

On to the real exciting stuff for me at the moment :)  Ok the other night I was discussing my work with my parents, whilst talking I began to formulate an interesting concept relating directly to the incidental light that I have been observing around the city. I have been struggling to find some that I can do without busting the budget as it where. So on to the Idea!!

The Idea I have in mind is this: A single(but fairly large)room totally dark and empty inside. Before the viewers enter the room, I ask them to put on head torches (like this one http://photos.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_426/car_photo_213212_7.jpg)These head torches will be configured with different lights, some coloured, some restricted etc. Once the group of say 8 viewers are equipped with thier head torches they proceed into the room and the door is closed behind them. The light cast by the viewers looking around in the room should create strange shapes, colours and shadows. This is all happening because of the movement of the viewers head. As a way of showing or documenting this occurence. I would like to hook up a camera or cameras inside the room which are linked to a live feed so people outside the room can view what is going on inside the room. Or, have the cameras record whats going on and as the viewers are let out they can watch what they have just created.

I feel that this could work quite well and it has a grounding with the idea of incidental light and people not noticing the occurences. My only worry is the source of the head lamps, I might consider asking a manufacture to sponsor or donate a few to the cause or just purchase a few myself we shall see.

But for now I want to just try this idea out.

Thanks

Mark

Series.

My work has carried on from the second year, focusing on Anxiety and Panic disorders from my own experiences.

I have been using my images from last year to help me create new art and have been experimenting alot with photography and sculpture.

The main aspect of the images I am adding to here is anxiousness in public spaces and whilst travelling. I used typical symbols and imagery that everyone knows, such as exit signs and open buttons on public transport overlaid ontop of my anxiety paintings to show the want of freedom and escape from situations that make me anxious.

I am about to work on some more photography using these images so will add them as they are completed. xxx

Mark - Light Project Update

Hi everyone.

Over the last few weeks I have had various encounters with different tutors, people, students and friends. To which I have spoken about my work to them and there has definetly been a concensus throughout the talk. Basically my idea of recreating those incidental light anomalies in a studio space wasn't going down very well. The concern was the incidental light lost its "magic" the didn't have that special quality that the originals. The artificial ones seemed forced and lacked that fragile natural feel.

More discussion lead to me moving back a step and actually using my photographs as the main material. However I needed something that could be construded as an artwork, as the photos are just of light. They needed something more to justify themselves. Recently my parents took my little sister on the go penguins trail and it dawned upon me that I was indeed trekking around town finding these light anomalies almost like the go penguins trail. Quickly I have began to produce the idea of having a guide/leaflet for these Light anomalies much like the go penguins. I have now began to forward this Idea, at the moments the leaflet is in its early stages but I feel this definetly has something within it. More so than my past work on this project.

Soa Summary of my progress:


1) Designing the Leaflet (First very rough mock nearly finished)


2) Taking the Photographs of the Light Anomalies and taking down their locations.


3) Thinking about how to distribute and present at assessment

The Gifts; Experiment G.1. – Part One

So I’ll be building me a boat…

For Exp G1 I intend to construct a 16ft Ranger canoe for my chosen recipient.
I began the process by researching the background of the canoe, its historical relevance and construction methods used today.
Once I had chosen my method of construction which is the ‘stitch and tape’ method I then went about sourcing suppliers for the materials I would need.
I also approached an American firm of boat designers in order to acquire the appropriate plans for the type of canoe I hope to build.

Once all plans and materials etc were in place construction began….

Stage 1 – In order to get the basic shape of the sections I needed to take the plans I had ordered and scale them up. For this I used pattern paper generally used in fashion.

Stage 2 – Using the plans I could then cut out the shapes on the marine ply boards, for this I used a jigsaw as a skill-saw was not available and then went through various stages of cutting and sanding in order to make sure the parts were sized perfectly and ready for the next stage of construction which will be the stitching.

The Gifts; Experiment G.3. – Part One

For Exp G3 I have decided to alter one of the variables of the project in order to document the differences in process and outcome. The variable I have chosen to change is the element of choice for the recipient.
This means in order to create this gift I started by discussing with the person the aims of the project as a whole and then explaining specifics regarding what the gift could be. For example an object, painting or sculpture (as with a traditional commission) or it could be an event, experience (or other). I asked the recipient to think this through and to then get back to me so we could discuss their ideas.
As it happened the recipient actually had quite a specific and unusual idea of what they wanted – they have requested that I attempt to find out as much about a deceased relatives medical history as I can.

Again, as with my other ‘experiments’, beginning the search involves a lot of background research and gaining as much information and relevant documentation from the recipient as possible.
I am currently in the process of speaking with the local health authorities on the process by which I will be able to gain access to this type of information, researching all the legalities involved and tracing addresses, doctors surgeries, GP’s, and so forth.
I am also looking into the possibility of acquiring professional legal help in order to; hopefully, speed up the process although this may actually have the opposite affect, due to delayed correspondence etc.

My concerns at this point are that this is a difficult and lengthy process and it is very possible at any point access may be denied due to various legal technicalities.
I am unsure as how to proceed if this happens and how that may affect the project.
Also as this is quite a delicate subject and the information I attain is highly personal/private how this works in terms of traditional Artistic validity. How can it be shown? If at all... What makes this artistic rather than just a research project or personal mission?

Quick update 2-1-2010 - Mark

Hey all, just a quick update. Here is a few pics and vids to show what I've been up to recently.

celebration of paint

Hi All, My work this year has been about a celebration of paint, Ive been recreating what looks like masking tape with a streak of paint. Im now trying to take it off the page and make some sculptures with the strips, not sure how yet. havent got any photos yet but i will upload some soon :)
see ya
Kirsty

At the end of my first year of uni i had an operation that changed my appearence quite alot. This year i have been keeping a diary of my experience before and after my operation. I am using the diary to develope a serious of self portraits that relate to these experiences. Here are a few paintings i have been working on recently.

"Our days are numbered"

Hybrid

I am using the term 'hybrid' as a basis of my work this year. I have been making collages from magazines and any other resource material I can find to create strange, hybrid characters. I have also been looking at the Cut-Up technique where text is cut up and randomly placed to create new text. I have started to cut up my original collages to create new characters. I am interested in combining the ideas of Cut-Up, collage and hybrid forms into paintings, considering the space on the canvas as well as the imagery I use. I think it is important for me to keep disecting (literally) my work as I produce it, the way that I have chosen to work is exciting as it is about being spontaneous and impulsive, and the outcome cannot be premeditated.

Leigh Jennings

Project looking at Femininity, Stereotypes, Identity and Representation.



I've been looking at how to express femininity through objects, mainly knickers. Using various materials, some with the addition of text, each knicker is a portrait of what may be classed as feminine. Not one thing can define femininity and not many objects can solely be associated with females.
I'm now considering display and the effects this can have on the work. I'm also looking to strengthen my research and understanding of my chosen topic with questionnaires. While I have the basis of my project realised, I'm hoping to broaden my work to include perhaps drawing and film projection to strengthen and add depth to my work.
I'm constantly aware of the male gaze upon my work and how the audience and forms of display can alter the work.
Please see my blog for other images of previous work I created to reach my place so far. I also use my blog to upload any artists or images I find inspiring, they're not always relevant to this knicker project but often revolve similar themes.
www.leighjennings.blogspot.com

"White lies"

I'll get this one out the way so I can update a lot quicker in the future;

I had a conversation with someone a while ago who was talking about the ADA being re-painted a different tone of white. A few other people had heard similar things but there was a number of different stories behind why it happened. The most amusing story was that the initial paint in some areas of the building had dried differently than in others, leaving a different colour on the wall. The architect wasn't happy and so had the entire building re-painted a slightly different tone of white. don't know if theres any truth in it but it just made me think 'i wouldn't be surprised!' I remembered this story because I find it interesting how our environments are often meticulously 'manicured' and our experience in them manipulated even without our involvement. (not too far away from my old theory of 'everything is a conspiracy and we're all being brainwashed!'when i was a bit younger).

More interesting than that tho was that I bought it, and I walked around uni with my head tilted for a while, examining the new paint which was so profoundly important. My work at the end of each year usually involves a lot of photo's of things i've put places (interventions) backed up with a lot of chat, stories, anecdotes, theory that you can apply to anything, and a lot of 'bending' the truth. all of this is the feedback I get from doing stuff initially - learning from it afterwards - and then sort of telling people it went brilliantly by adding layers of theory and context, which in a way is kind of true because it all came from feedback from other people in the first place. Iv started to play with the function of the documentation of work -which is becoming more and more interesting now we all need to rely on them for our assessment... . .anyway, have a look at images of previous work on my other blog!

For one of my projects, the big main one, I am planning to re-paint, again, the entire ADA building. To do this I need;

1. To spread a rumour with a lot of help from other people

• word of mouth, plugs in meetings and lectures etc, e-mail, publish fake documents and letters from the architect + others in mind.

• set up ubiquitous but hidden interventions in the building E.G stack up tins of emulsion, cordon off areas of the building with hazard tape and dusty old carpet protectors and have ladders lying around etc. Think of Keith Willson's 'puddle'.

• Hire (for real -pay for by the hour) people to convincingly (ish) act out the job of the painter and decorator. this will also be part of the rumour as I will print adverts "Rick Mather architects looking for students to help with maintenance work - including info about the re-painting job.

The idea of a real economy is interesting to me (if it go's to plan - I'm selling some old work to pay for it) because ill be paying an artist to perform and paying them to carry out a pointless menial task, which we can all relate to.

I know there are loads of obvious things that you guys might have questions about if you've bothered to read this far but Il go on forever if I mention everything at once. + I've started to think that all the potential pitfalls could turn out to be interesting in themselves and work out differently so I'm welcoming questions.... . .sean

(obviously id appreciate it if you kept all this to yourselves 4 now cheers)

Relevant to me;

LOOK @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIDGyRO6w2o - Amazing!!!

http://crumb.sunderland.ac.uk/~ele/nothing/nothingpaper.htm - Kieth Willson

Family Tree.

Hello.

Before the christmas break i started thinking about the family tree as a metaphor and i started experimenting with origami mobiles using trees and recycled paper. The origami cranes are meant to represent memories and before i knew it i had made over 1,000 cranes in 2 weeks. At the moment i'm wondering if the process of folding paper is more significant than the finished pieces themselves, as a result i've started researching Therapeutic Filmmaking. Below is a very basic idea i had which i will hopefully be able to elaborate on in the future...

LSAFA3101 Curatorial Review Group 2

Hi all,

Please find you times (below) for your first Curatorial Group Individual Tutorials. As we established in our seminar last week, these are NOT to be confused with your Core Teaching on a Thursday – which you MUST also attend.

I will see Group 2A on the morning of Friday Jan 22 and Group 2B on the morning of Tuesday Jan 26.

From then on I’ll try and stick to Tuesday mornings for individual tutorials/group meets etc (my time table allowing). I’ll try to give you as much notice as possible.

Please come to my office, room 334 on the third floor for your tutorials. Bring relevant information about your project, where its up to and your ideas for bringing your research to resolution/publication.

We haven't got any time to waste so please be prompt and prepared.

As well as signing up to this blog, please make sure that you have made at least one post (text and image) before Friday when I first start seeing you. This is not optional.

Regards John

Staff Assessment Curator: John Byrne
GROUP 2A
LAUREN DEVIN 9.30
SARAH EVANS 9.50
NIAMH FLANAGAN 10.10
VICTORIA GELEZINIS 10.30
HARRIET GRIFFEY 10.50
CHRISTOPHER GROOM 11.10
REBECCA GUNDERSEN 11.30
LAURA HARRIS 11.50
SEAN HARVEY 12.10


GROUP 2B
KIRSTY ISHERWOOD 9.30
LEIGH JENNINGS 9.50
MARK KNIPE 10.10
EMMA LAWTON 10.30
AMANDA LYNN 10.50
ILIANA MATARRELLI 11.10
MAEVE MCANULTY 11.30
JOANNE MCCLELLAN 11.50
AMANDA MCGOWAN 12.10
NADINE MARCUS 12.30

THE GIFTS

Hi Guys,

Just a Quick One...

My work or project this year is based around the concept of gift exchange and I just want to give you an initial update to what is happening with the project as a whole. My subsequent blogs will hopefully be more specific, and focus on separate pieces.

Before Christmas break I was focused on finalising project plans and attempting to answer fundamental questions such as

• What am I trying to achieve?
• And Why?
• What is reasonable within the timeframe?
• What is reasonable with the available resources/expertise/ability?

I am currently in the process of starting work on the sample group; the first 3 gifts, the progress of which I will update as and when appropriate.

Keep you posted.

Niamh

Incidental Light - Mark Knipe

 

 

 

 


Hi everyone, heres some new photographs of the incidental light idea I've been working on. I became interested in this idea before Xmas break. The intent of my project can be found here in my own personal blog: http://urbanskyproject.blogspot.com/ I wont post it here cos' its quite a hefty post.

Ok so these images contain some light anomalies that i have found around liverpool.In some of the images the light almost looks like it has been painted on by hand. the shapes, colours and sizes are quite intriguing aswell, as some of these are over 20ft tall and yet people still walk by and not batter an eyelid towards them. I definetly feel that there is some creative link here between nature and the man-made. Could I create somethink of a simiar beauty using artificial light and artificial methods? Well my plan is to draw up some concepts and try a few mini mock-ups to get a feel for what material does what and such.

Mark