cleaningandorganising

After repainting and cleaning the studio, it was time to use it to set up a photo studio to document the recent work. They are all about initially creating a space, thinking about volume, whilst also looking a surface. Painting, repainting the shapes with a variety of materials from paint and varnish to gorilla glue and plaster and then sanding to reveal the layers. Textile students had a photo shoot last week, documenting work for this year’s on-line degree show. I took along a folded structure to have a bit of fun…….Some screens – I blame society – no. we are who we are – no. Ammonite – yes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7983894/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 Black Bear – the wonderfully clever meta narratives will make you think https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9601220/. After watching Babylon Berlin a series centred on the post WW1 Berlin scene it’s interesting to think about the many parallels with today. The rise of nationalism, corrupt politics, runaway capitalism, add in Covid, and the post Brexit vote/landscape - are we heading into the cycle that is roaring 20s and everything that follows? Searching for a series – so far it’s a no to Salvation and Big Sky.

siteformspecific

I have some images of work in a site-specific on-line exhibition at The Cut Arts Centre in Halesworth. http://newcut.org/sitespecific it's an Interesting exhibition and my work sits alongside a range of excellent people with some great work http://newcut.org/sitespecific/les-bicknell

meanwhile back in my studio I've been thinking about the fold, concealment, duality and the creation of narrative. The images are close-ups of the 17 new bookworks created for the upcoming Station show. The works are conceived as 3D objects, although to make the work a number of rules were followed, the main one being that all forms can be folded to 2D.

Although the actual work is abstract there are a number of narratives to be created in the mind of the viewer if the idea of the body and the book are considered, alongside the interrelationships between shape, structure and form in general.

layeredstructures

working on new films of the new structures - these stills of the tests - at the moment there is a sense of the magician in the clips - onto some entertainment - Normal People was lovely and had a well crafted script that outlined the characters beautifully.  Extraction - was quite tedious, how many times do you need to see heads exploding? The final episodes of Better Call Saul season 5 were tremendous and leave everything open for season 6. SS GB was what it was when alternative histories take over - big on period detail, especially the sets, although I did recognise the foyer of the old Central College of the Arts Building and USAF Bentwaters which kept taking me out of the scenes. Fantasy Island has to be the most confusing film ever - so much so that it becomes a great watch in the company of like minded people. There are moments of laugh out loud hilarity from Steve Coogan in Greed and the meta moments of actual celebrities playing themselves playing a version of them being paid to attend a party at a party is head swivelling - it's Carry On the Big Short.

newmodelsofbehaviour

I have been working on a number of new shapes that explore the book form within the structures. They use different qualities of paper to exploit bending, squash, deform and friction. Continuing the work with Kings within the synthetic anatomy project. It really is a glorious experience. The situation has so many positive aspects - to be valued for the creativity brought into the room and celebrated by the students who are focused and alert to new possibilities. Working in the laboratories presents an interesting number of issues but mainly one is aware of the tech support, each bench having a monitor and using a microphone means that one can talk clearly and also use it to offer each student the opportunity to talk to the whole class. They did great work, revelations all around using 'art school thinking' to explore lateral thinking and problem solving. The act of reflection was flagged up and explored - scientists using sketch books. Working with the glorious Celia Pym is such a pleasure and I'm looking forward to this week where she is leading a session using drawing as a vehicle for thinking.

managed to get back to Kara Walker at the Tate - it was good to go back and look at the work again - it's quite a monument with an impressive use of the space.

meanwhile Parasite is a glorious film of shifting genres and meanings, Never Look Away is a stunning film about art, and creativity in adversity - a real winner - don't be put off by the 3 hour subtitles, it will feel like 3 minutes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5311542/?ref_=rvi_tt and you get to see a lecture by Joseph Beuys - most excellent. finally worked through Sex Education which continues to do good work, demonstrating some excellent lessons - if you have children watch it with them.

arrivingatanidea

ok everybody has to see Arrival - so many questions - where do memories come from? who makes them? what IS language? it's a truly beautifully heartbreaking mind twisting multiple discussion point film. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2543164/ go now - it will make you a better person. Star Wars - Rogue One http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3748528/?ref_=nv_sr_2  Alan Tudyk as K-2SO steals the show - all the best lines and witty commentary on the overall proceedings - once you've got past the extraordinary special effects, the detailed set dressing and death star imagery the film felt like a colouring in exercise - making the links between two known places in the story, although along the way there are some creative insights into the world that is to be defined by the force. Nocturnal Animals http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4550098/ is so stylish that what feels like the central anti-women feeling underpinning the film almost glosses over you. It did instigate a house conversation where I tried to think of a film where the woman, even if treated badly doesn't turn into the person doing the bad thing! The woman in a broken relationship even if the one done-bad-by  always appears not to get the sympathy of the audience as they either turn into a psychopath or the one somehow deserving it by not conforming to the roles society has defined for them, and women in general. You will get to Thelma and Louise but it doesn't end well for anyone). Kurt Russell is in full on acting mode but Terence Stamp's acerbic witty remarks steal the show in the caper that is The Art of the Steal http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172985/business and then..... there is the great series from Netflix - travellers http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5651844/ - if you like your sci-fi part time-travel and smart this is for you.  Meanwhile I've been working on the bookwork for the show of average sunlight for millimetre02 space, Kingsgate Workshops.

travellingfromthepast

over the weekend whilst sorting out a corner of the studio I came across a pile of CDs (remember them!) I found a mass of images of past work - here are some bookworks made after moving from London in the late 80s - a move to a rural area in Lincolnshire. The ideas behind the work came from long walks at Anderby Creek collecting pebbles on the beach and being influenced by a residency which enabled me to work with medieval travelling alter pieces with my own version of the precious. I have no idea who has them or where they are - they were sold in various exhibitions and Chelsea Craft Fair - I hope that the people who have them still enjoy.