exposingunderneath

Week 3 on the synthetic anatomy module at Kings was fantastic – the bag anatomy session was a treat as proto scientists gave meaning to inanimate objects, just as I said artist's have titled their work, the titles giving entry points and meaning. The module goes from strength to strength It’s great to value each years’ experience, with our learning building on and with each years knowledge rather than a wholesale rewriting of the course every year. What is it to communicate without being able to talk? I like the idea of rules, systems, choice and how intuition is navigated within the workshop.The afternoon was spent drawing in the dissecting room. Alone in a room with dead people and fridges of many random parts of dead people was 'interesting', a strange privilage. I spent a lot of time looking, and marvelling at what I had on the table in front of me. It was only after that I realized that I had focused on hands and feet, the places I had just tattooed. Exploring the bones and tendons under the skin explains the intense pain the week before! Juxtaposing the images of my tattoos with my drawings seems to make sense as resolved outcomes. It was a real privilege. Onto screens – Ferrari – a strangely predictable story but set in beautiful countryside. Welcome II the Terrordome – more odd dystopian future. The Beekeeper – the Stath doing Stath things (killing people creatively) American Star – yes I am a killer, but with a heart! Started Mr and Mrs Smith – nonsense but great fun!

spacesbuildingspaces

Working to develop the roof plate project - started to explore the possibility of mapping the structures – when manipulating the form the shapes created reveal the internal stresses and connections within the structure. Joining the individual elements with angles delivers unexpected shapes.

buildingunderstanding

I'm currently in the process of building a collaboration within King's College London in the Anatomy, Developmental and human biology exploring the potential of creating a project around modelling the roof plate of Zebra fish. We are looking at how physical models and thinking through making can add to our understanding of the systems and structures that are within the roof plate. The structural sculptures I make are valued as models to aid understanding and enable discussion, which is often fascinating and leads my practice down roads I could not envisage. Starting with photographing and film making and scanning which leads to 3D printing and then physical models which are then documented through film and so the iterative process continues with reflection as a driver.

fullonvirtualheartsurgery

Work wise it's been a full on week, the process of planning permission is underway at Chelmsford so should hopefully, maybe start making work soonish.  Assessment time at NUA  is an immersive exercise and takes all sorts of energy but it's exciting to spend quality time with the work submitted. Tutorials with OCA students has been wonderfully creative. They are taking on the huge task of challenging their working patterns to create new work within a new context, testing boundaries. For my part I have been made aware of a huge range of new work and ideas alongside providing advice and support. Synthetic anatomy has seen me attempting to take on board learning 3D medical imaging software. It's a steep curve but awesome - working on the heart virtually is fairly mind blowing - can't wait to try and 3D print my efforts. The end of the f***ing world is a great road movie coming of age season - watched it all, 8 episodes in one go - yea that compelling http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6257970/ Gilbert and George at White Cube - what to say - I loved the sign warning of bad language outside, although fucking became so oblivious that it ceased to actually have the impact it can have in isolation. Its Condo in London time http://www.condocomplex.org/london/ so decided to check out a few spaces in the east end - loved the nipping from space to space festival vibe

busybusyanatomybuilding

A busy week ahead with year 3 assessments at NUA, OCA tutorials for Testing Boundaries and general activity such as workshops - Hybrid thinking/construction is at the core of this session. You will be beginning to think about construction. You will be exploring where book becomes pleat and folding becomes smocking. You will of started off making simple smocking techniques, pleating and book experimental book structures. Needles, thread, paper and cloth will be provided. Meanwhile day 1 contact with students as part of the synthetic anatomy project at Kings was excellent. The energy in the room was so positive and solutions to bridge building and subsequent presentations were full of learning and thinking that will go on to support the project later.  some films - Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri is a remarkable film - it takes the viewer on an extraordinary journey that can't be guessed http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5027774/ Mark Felt: The Man who brought down the White House is a film full of very dramatic swirling enigmatic music that includes references to telephones and telecommunication in general whilst pointing out the obvious imagery on screen. Man with an iron heart is a down the line but not exactly word for actual historical fact of Nazi action in WW2.