yarnandstuff

I’ve been thinking about this idea for a while – since a good friend of mine commented that my tattoos were a lot like threads. More work to be done. Onto screens – Finally finished Day of the Jackal – lots of plot gaps (how did he get away?) - anyway - all set up for season 2 I guess. Joy – straightforward linear narrative. Have a Nice Day – anime slow and then fast. Wild Robot – a tale of beautiful loss. Family Man – a Christmas gem. Anora – a tense ride but really worth it. A real pain – just blew me away – amazing set-up that was beautifully tragic. Just started Black Doves – intriguing premise slowly unfolding.

feelingaffordanceandthinkingthroughmaking

bringing together a number of experiments to submit to a conference.

somethoughtsandclips

I had a clip of the work made whilst at NanoDTC in ‘Making Bread with your Feet’ at the recent Midlands Conference of Critical Thought as part of the Gentle Gestures strand curated by Alice Bell, Danica Maier and Mark Kasumovic. The work is made up of many small/short moments of action whilst reflecting. Just heard that murmur, a film made within synthetic anatomy at Kings is to be included in Aperiodic, an exhibition, and catalogue curated by Lucy Ward in Bristol. Really pleased that the work is been seen by a wider public, beyond the Kings community as it is a beautiful document of human behaviour. Onto screens – struggled with Fallout, stopping after the first episode but am deep into Ripley, just tense through every episode, with the black and white giving extra gravitas. Saw Nye – a live stream of the National Theatre play. I am sort of caught between the hybrid nature of the exercise, neither theatre nor film but the play was truly wonderful – recommended if you can get a ticket but watching a film is still pretty good. Currently obsessed with Out & About by Amplify and P Money – play loud! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EA32_-v_b8 

breathingoutandinandout

The 1-minute films are slowly getting edited. Meanwhile - working at Kings - Synthetic Anatomy Day 1 - I think there is some interesting research to be undertaken about iteration around teaching. I think this year’s 1st day was possibility one of our best - clarity of intention was key, we are getting very good at working with students to develop learning criteria. The session was excellent, building a shared understand whilst simultaneously surprising ourselves. There were some interesting conversations which I brought back into my world, both as anecdotes and also into my own practice as a maker. I particularly liked the idea of the wildcard criteria that could be a driver of one’s own iterative process. Interested that what we value is what we decide to measure or is it what we measure is what we decide to value. I loved the idea of a 'good version' of a 'bad' bridge being 'better' than a 'bad version' of a 'good bridge' and the structures themselves were fascinating – on the way home I continued to read 12 bytes - Jeanette Winterson. It's a collection of thoughts whose focus is ai - it was fascinating finding out the way quantum computers (the next generation) work - that quantum bits exist in many places but when observed (measured) they take on a defined form and can be observed only in one! Unsure how that relates but in some way it seems relevant to the conversations that came out of the crits. Onto Screens - The Painter – just...odd. Role Play – I think we’ve been here before.

somefilmsandsomeexhibitions

I’ve been spending time editing some films down or up to 1 minute. The plan is to have a suite of 1-minute films that explore some of the ideas I’ve been working on recently – lab gestures and digital structured spaces. Meanwhile onto screens – in the middle of Dreaming whilst black – funny and ….oh no don’t send the email! The Bricklayer just unnecessary. There are two shows in Norwich at the moment worth checking out - The Stuff of Life | The Life of Stuff at the Sainsbury Centre is interesting in terms of human ingenuity and Norwich Castle has Norwich Works: The Industrial Photography of Walter and Rita Nurnberg which were beautifully lit. There was also a great film from the 50s driving around the streets documenting the past.

behindyou

boooooooo - behind you – on-no-it-isn’t, oh-yes-it-is – Dick Whittington,The panto at the New Wolsey in Ipswich was truly excellent – alternative words to well known songs, a new type of set and the addition of an evil character alongside the caustic dame – what more do you want! Meanwhile creating new 3D printed structures but have been sidetracked by the imagery in the software.  

exploringscientificgesturesthroughcardboardstructures

Exploring Scientific Gestures through Cardboard Structures

In the realm of scientific exploration, innovation often stems from the unlikeliest of sources. One such avenue of inspiration has been found in the use of cardboard structures. This intriguing collaboration between scientists and humble cardboard has led to a fascinating world of discovery, demonstrating the boundless ingenuity of the human mind.

At first glance, cardboard might seem unassuming and perhaps even inconsequential in the grand scheme of scientific progress. Yet, when coupled with creative minds, it transforms into a medium of exploration that transcends its basic form. I have embarked with scientists on a creative journey, designing intricate cardboard structures that mirror complex scientific phenomena. These structures serve as tangible, visual representations of abstract concepts, enabling researchers to communicate intricate ideas in a universally understandable manner. In the making of cardboard structures we set out to go beyond mere visual representation it extended into the realm of hands-on experimentation. Learning through observing and touching.

Whilst observing the work undertaken in the laboratory I created a specific body of work. I began by closely observing the scientists explaining their processes, drawing inspiration from the intricacies of human hand movements undertaken by demonstrators in the role of science communication. This tangible interaction with cardboard brought forth an intuitive understanding of scientific concepts that might otherwise remain confined to complex equations and theories. The cardboard structures I created were more than static models; they became dynamic representations of articulation. We introduced basic concepts of bio mechanics, considering the range of motion, and joint limitations. Geometry played a pivotal role in this endeavor. Crafting shapes that mirrored hand gestures, we engaged with angular measurements, spatial relationships, and symmetry. By manipulating these cardboard shapes, we illustrated geometric transformations, connecting the abstract world of mathematics to tangible creations.

The cardboard structures were often painted or marked to visually convey the relevant elements of the scientific concept. Color-coded sections, labels, and symbols aid in highlighting crucial features and facilitate better understanding. The visual cues enhanced the engagement of learners and made the abstract ideas more accessible. Interactive Learning is key. One of the key advantages of this method is its interactive nature. The cardboard structures act as hands-on teaching tools, encouraging participants to manipulate the structures themselves. By physically engaging with the structures, learners gain a deeper comprehension of the scientific concept, as the connection between the hand movements and the underlying principles becomes more understandable. As with any creative endeavor, refinement is an ongoing process. By sharing the work I gathered feedback from participants and peers, seeking ways to improve the clarity and effectiveness of the cardboard structures. This iterative approach ensures that the final product is not only scientifically accurate but also optimally engaging.

The experiment also delved into the realm of materials science. Selecting the right cardboard thickness and flexibility alongside the materials used to create the joints. This allowed us to understand how structural integrity and flexibility are essential for proper movement. This practical application of materials science deepened our appreciation for the balance between strength and flexibility in biological structures. We explored the principles of feedback and control systems. By introducing simple mechanisms to alter the cardboard structures motion, we tackled the intricacies of closed-loop control systems, mirroring the body's ability to adjust movements based on sensory feedback. We were able to feel scientific concepts.

The combination of scientific curiosity and cardboard ingenuity has given rise to a world of exploration that transcends the boundaries of traditional methodologies. Using cardboard structures, we unveiled the hidden and revealed the elegance of complex theories with simple gestures. These tangible representations foster a deeper understanding of intricate scientific concepts, engaging scientists, researchers, and students. Cardboard can be used to simulate and study phenomena that are otherwise inaccessible due to scale, danger, or complexity. Cardboard offers a safe, cheap, and interactive platform for scientists to test hypotheses, refine theories, and educate aspiring minds. As we continue to push the boundaries of knowledge, it’s important not to forget that even the most unassuming materials can serve as powerful catalysts for discovery.

dualityforces

The latest versions of work around pharmacology looks at duality - each element affecting each other but there is an outside force that generates the starting energy. Meanwhile – screens – Don’t worry Darling – a darkly chilling incel nightmare. Season 2 of Industry continues the process of revealing that the public are just the very, very thin crust of the worlds true engagement with money. 

abandonedfilms

I've been thinking about the films made with 3D printing - projecting them in an empty and abandoned buildings. The spaces provide a new context and projecting them feels like you are in dialogue. I am thinking about and making new films with a view to where they might be projected. onto screens – Stillwater – slow twists with Matt at the helm. The Courier - slow twists with Benedict at the helm.   

3sinks3structures

After the 20 minute take down of the show HERE, @theart_station I spent some time in the exciting spaces around the building projecting films and then documenting them. I've been creating 3D printed structures that constrict the movement of the fingers. The restrictions look to control and manipulation. The rawness of their design and the play within the videos are interesting but the next stage is to incorporate the ball and joint and hinged structures into bookwork structures. Onto screens - I am your man – deep underlying sadness yet beautiful. Night of Kings – truly magical storytelling. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8132778/

changingthepast

 my aunt flossie's house

 the house I was born in 

 the house I grew up in 

a visit back to what used to be Coventry - my past has changed - part of the ongoing documentation of psychogeographical erosion.

truthtruthtruthsandsometruthsaboutlies

weeks into my Annual Leave and working on timetables for next year - in-between I continue to read books that explain that we have little hope in terms of technology. Marcus Gilroy-Ware details the psychology behind social media in his book Filling the Void. It's a must read if you want to know why we really use social media, who gets to win and what it's doing to us while we do it - plot spoiler - it's all about rich and powerful people using capitalism to continue to be richer and more powerful - who knew! but his argument goes beyond the usual conspiracy theorist - the page gives you a flavour of the tone. Well - some films.... combine every scenario about immediate danger even including I am Spartacus and you have The Commuter,  Dark Crimes - who cares and Tully - cares too much and that ending......anyway working on creating covers for books made in a reflective mood after working at NanoDTC exploring sequence and handling of objects.  

starvideowars

I've posted all the videos that I created during the residency in Cambridge at NanoDTC.  
https://unfoldingthinking.blogspot.co.uk/ Find them at my website -
http://lesbicknell.wixsite.com/work/unfoldingthinking-videos Within the work there are some great collaborations with the scientists at Cambridge; Sarwat Baig, Duncan Johnstone, Giorgio Divitini, Carmen Berraquero, Dr Malcolm Longair, James Xiao, Girish Rughoobur, Diana Vulpe, Heather Goodwin, Richard Howe, David Wharton, and Dr Deepak Venkateshvaranand. There is a suite of 4 with some excellent sounds developed by Aidan Johnson https://soundcloud.com/clerk37

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is just awesome - so many points of wonderfulness - it has a room with the essence of the most evilness ever, with Supreme Leader Snoke and costumes from Hell with his Praetorian red guard and an excellent soundtrack and some clever meta references into and through the Star Wars Universe. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2527336/

Within the universe that has been built for Bright to exist within everything makes sense but some wooden dialogue pulls you out of the world of belief. The Levelling portrays the somewhat isolated nature of rural life with a gloomy, oppressive look at family farming. Geostorm is nonsense but end of the evening take your brain out nonsense.

inthewindowrunning

the work is hung for Art Language Location (ALL) in the window of the Land Economy building in Silver Street in Cambridge.

bookmachines

some more found things from the past that might become
things in the future. the film a brand
new testament http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3792960/
is a beautiful re thinking of many things but there is a 'charming' thought around how
the word would be if only women were in charge, although background sky filters
might not be the way to go! 

thepastisablur

iterations of the film for ALL have emerged from the studio this week.

songs from the second floor - a film by Roy Andersson made in 2000 that somehow is about Brexit and the place we are now. The final solution to the problems of the people is devastating. Those in charge, the business people and politicians  (because they have read many books) are lost - the whole film is a marvel. invited to participate in BOOKMARE project 2 - the title of average sunlight the strange thing was that I just found myself somehow drawn to looking at a web site of my old school (the school was closed down then knocked down and a huge tribute site has been created) something melancholic about the phrase of average sunlight! the photos of past students ........we shall see.

foldedtime

    

in around 1989ish I worked with the poet Gary Boswell 
http://www.poetrysoc.com/content/archives/places/recycle/ in an Assessment Centre for young offenders in Lincolnshire creating words and/in books - I learnt so much in that residency - in the car on our journey to the facility we talked about many things - one being that in the very far future there would be a layer of material within the earth created from plastic very much akin to how coal was created - we were just thinking about this within the context of creative writing not really from an ecological standpoint - this idea appears to be all the rage as a topic - generation anthropocene is now on the agenda. this is a stunning read - http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/01/generation-anthropocene-altered-planet-for-ever - truly apocalyptical doom ridden - a must

two extraordinary films - both exploring the structure of film making itself Victoria - a 2 hour single take tour de force of planning http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/film/2016/03/can-film-work-single-unbroken-shot-victoria-shows-it-can and Mr Nobody - a fractured multiple narrative love story http://www.magpictures.com/mrnobody/ both are quite wonderful in their own way.

I am 'sort of' in this show http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/events/maxwell/

- well not really - more of a sideline of entertainment to the wonderful Gustav
Metzer, Fischli/Weiss and Hito Steyerl. I have on display some of the vast archive of objects along with one of the films I made as part of the Nano^Art project . 

unchainedwood

a cluster of randomness - an interesting blog post from Tim Burrough, a
student on the MA Book Art course at Camberwell - worth a view http://blogs.arts.ac.uk/camberwell/2016/02/05/ma-book-arts-student-profile-tim-burrough/#more-11112 A really sweet film people places things, always great to see Germaine Clement (he of the wonderful flight of the concord) and here he is supported by some moving drawings as he plays a comic book artist. A new film by me that is supported by the sounds of Aiden Johnson aka Clerk 37 - check out his soundcloud site https://soundcloud.com/clerk37 My annual leave form has come through so time to start planning - Marseille, Rome, and New York are on the cards. 

somefoldedfoldsworkingmagic

two short films emphasising the 'magical' element of the work - busy day at NUA yesterday but managed to view the films on the large screen in the lecture theatre - yes sometimes bigger really is the answer