Sophie Ashdown

This week’s session started with an exhibition opportunity in Lincoln, organised by Donald.  I have never been to Lincoln but I might go for this.  I’m not sure what piece I would submit but I have a few options.  Would I send something that I have made since the course started or something that I already have that I really like?  I haven’t worked that out yet but I’m thinking about it.  This would be my 7^th show since January which is the most I’ve done in one year, and seems like a nice way to finish the year off.

We watched a video by David Cross that talks about his project called “the Lion and the Unicorn” which was held at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery in late 2008.  In the video we see a project that David did which was a commentary on fossil fuels and fuel consumption where 14 tonnes of coal were laid out in a large rectangle in an otherwise completely empty white room.

We were asked to write down notes on what we found interesting in the video, and things that catch our attention.  The video was narrated in first person by David Cross.

Here are some of the key things that were said or described that I made note of:

• It is intended to provoke.  As in a joke, insult, or threat.  But as it is framed as art then it’s okay.
• We understand the role of culture in everyday working people.  It is not just for wealthy people.
• The exhibition room has no daylight, air, or windows.  It purposely cuts off perceptions from the real world – from nature, the sun, trees, or birds.  It calms down distraction.
• Fossil fuel changes have changed how we live and how we build cities.
• We’ve been lied to about energy consumption
• We are interested in pushing the limits of what can be done.  As artists we should test limits.
• The intention was to take the gallery to the edge
• Ideological ideas are keeping us trapped
• Disaster is the new normal

Of the above, there are two that stand out the most to me:

1. The artist’s intention to provoke the audience – as a joke, insult, or threat.  My immediate response is a visceral physical reaction.  Let’s not dive into the reasons why but from personal experience I go into fight or flight mode at such things.  This was right at the beginning of the video and I thought uh-oh this isn’t going to go well, but as it turned out I enjoyed the video and the possibility of insults or threats etc did not appear so I was able to relax.
2. As artists we should test limits.  I think I would have tentatively agreed with this statement prior to starting this course. Now I would wholeheartedly agree.  I’m learning more about myself as an artist in these first few weeks than ever before, and a big part of that is by pushing my own boundaries.  The more I read and experience from other artists is that pushing boundaries is what produces the most interesting work.  What interests me most is seeing new types of art, new styles, new combinations, new ideas, new perspectives.  If it was all the same that art would be boring.

We did a breakout session to discuss this further and share our feedback.

The second big thing we did was discuss the Study Statement that we will each have to prepare for February.  There is a good description of what we have to prepare and how to write it.  I have already thought quite a bit about my Study Statement.  At the moment I am thinking that it will be to do with Constructivism but I haven’t honed it down to an actual statement yet.

I’ve been working in a Constructivist style for a number of years now and am a member of the New Constructivists UK.  I think that I can really take this genre forward and make it my thing, but I need to do more thinking and planning about it.

Cue a blog post coming soon all about Constructivism!