Follow me in my Creative Journey
Culture [ kuhl-cher ] noun
the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.
a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period:Greek culture.
After my research at the Barbican, I felt like rubbings gave me a new perspective and way to look at things. It almost makes you focus more on the micro level to see the little details immediately around you, rather than the big picture. I did a rubbing for every distinct place me and Shuya stopped on the tube, shown in sequential order below.
We thought about the rubbings and what practical applications they may have to fashion and textiles.
Our Main Themes/Ideas/Discussions:
At the Barbican, I began with doing rubbings of all the different textures, as I enjoyed the brutalist architecture, and the excessive use of textured concrete. I wanted to capture this on paper.
I also began to think about what was planned and what was “natural”. Even the natural elements at the Barbican seem to be pre-planned. Every pathway is carved out; the barbican is like a maze that corrals people and diverts them in new and interesting ways.
One thing that stood out to me is the yellow lines throughout the barbican. To be honest, they just seemed unnecessary and a bit humorous. The architecture is confusing and I don’t know why the architects decided that the direction in which we walk needed clarity.
The final thing I noticed were the tombstones outside the church. I was sketching a man sunbathing on them, and I did not realize what they were. It seemed odd to me to have these large slabs of concrete as a sitting space, when there were benches nearby, so I investigated further. It was at that time when I realized that they were tombstones. It was a fun activity to recap and put together a family history. It felt like solving a mystery or getting a window into somebody else’s life.
I liked the idea that a man was unknowingly sunbathing on a tombstone. It seemed to fit into the contrasting elements of the barbican.
The beginning of the exhibition at the Museum of London is a display which includes landscapes and skeletal remains. I was very attracted to the bones; I kept thinking about what the human or animal may have looked like with all of the muscles and flesh intact. I also was very attracted to the things which adorned the body (mainly armor on that point).
Moving into the Roman/middle age part of the exhibition, I was attracted to the cloth and the raw materials used. The roman garments were all so drapey, and it seemed appropriate for the aspect of functionality. There weren’t many aesthetic considerations at this point when it came to textiles. However, the jewels and metals seemed much more artistic.
In the middle age exhibit, I began thinking more about materiality, necessity, and function.
After the plague and great fire exhibition, London seemed to become a place of total opulence (and I loved the whole 18th century exhibition). It was almost the total opposite of the middle age and roman exhibition (where things were created for necessity over functionality). Everything was exquisite- I was very attracted to the 18th century dress with a pannier. I also loved the fans, jewels, and gloves. Themes crossing my mind were:
Sometimes Making Something Leads to Nothing: Francis Alÿs
Alÿs is a Beligian Artist who made me think about public performance, ironies, paradoxes, and the absurdity of actions.
What catches a viewers attention?
How obvious do artists and designers have to be with their messages?
Things to Consider: Camouflaged or Highlighted?
I think that in art, an artist’s attitude is the most important element. If an artwork is to touch someone, it must be the result of not only technique, but also the artist’s thinking and struggle in life. And the repeated struggles in life create artwork, no matter in what form.
Lui Bolin
Bolin is a Chinese artist who studied sculpture at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing.
Liu Bolin explores the relationship between the individual and society by ‘disappearing’ into environments. Usually these sites are areas under intense criticism and debate.
Bolin adopts a protesting, yet reflecting method with his work. He questions issues like family planning, elections, food safety, law, and propaganda.
He has also addressed the issue of people being laid off from their jobs during times of economic crisis. He makes workers invisible in the place they have spend their entire life working.
So he asks himself:
“Why will I make myself invisible. What will making myself invisible here cause people to think?“
Citations:
Liu Bolin. The Invisible Man. TED Talk. February 2013. < https://www.ted.com/talks/liu_bolin_the_invisible_man > [19 August 2019]
Liu Bolin Studio. Liu Bolin. 2019. < https://liubolinstudio.com/liubolin/ > [19 August 2019]
On Wednesday at 11:00 AM, Shuya and I are meeting to explore some stops on the northern line. Based on my initial research, I propose we stop at (based on random facts I have accumulated):
Citations:
Camden. The London Borough of Camden. (2018) < https://www.camden.gov.uk/camdens-history > [19 August 2019]
Old Street District. History. (2019) < https://www.oldstreetdistrict.london/the-old-street-area/history/ > [19 August 2019]
Borough Market. < http://boroughmarket.org.uk/history > [19 August 2019]
Things to Consider: Text integration; group participation; sustainability; education
Gitte is a traditionally a, “jewelry artist” who hopes to create conversations about humans’ relationship with everyday objects. Her work explores objects that are surprising and often overlooked. She creates everything from functional objects to project based collaborations and commissioned pieces.
Gitte graduated in 1998 as a goldsmith from the Danish College of Jewelery and Silversmithing, and in 2002 in Art Jewelery from the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam.
One of the things most apparent about Nygaard is that she is a master at documenting her work: her photographs are amazing and compelling.
These First two pieces are from her collection BODONI where she abstracts text and uses it in her jewelry. I found this interesting because streets of big cities are often littered with street signs and text is used almost everywhere.
These next pieces (a part of her collection: Makers Move) really inspired me because the process is so inclusive. I love how she invites the public to be a part of her work. I am often saying that I wish more people knew how to sew or knew anything about, “making” so they could understand both how difficult it is and how important it is to preserve traditional craft and the ability of people to work with their hands.
It may be interesting to invite the public to be a part of this next piece (and record everything on video).
I really like how Nygaard talks about mending the relationship between maker and wearer AND wearer and object. This could be tied back into the idea of sustainable fashion because the public is being educated on process, how to make things, how difficult it is to make things, etc.
Citation: Nygaard, Gitte Nygaard. < http://www.gittenygaard.com > [19 August 2019]
I have blocked out a rough weekly schedule to keep myself and Shuya on track.
Week 1: Research and Reading (19-23)
Week 2: Ideation + Material Testing (26-30)
Week 3: Ideation/Material Testing/Begin Final Execution (2-6)
Week 4: Execution (9-13)
Week 5: Finish and Document Execution; Prepare Presentation (16-20)
Things to consider: element of surprise; variety scale
Liesbet Bussche is a Belgian designer who creates public art out of jewelry. I find this interesting because public art is almost impersonal, while jewelry is usually so intimate.
I also really enjoy how her work is almost unexpected. It reminds me of an eye spy game or where’s waldo. This element of surprise makes the work even more compelling, as it draws viewers into the work.
Another thing I have found to be so interesting in Bussche’s work is the element of scale. Normally jewelry is such an intricate and small thing, but increasing the size makes it so compelling because the viewers get to enjoy the experience of jewelry in a new way.
Samantha's RCA Process 