instructivepaperfolding

An instructive day at Kings, a puppetry workshop, working as part of synthetic anatomy, animating, and infusing life into inanimate sheets of paper run by Alicia Britt. Lots to think about and potentially some things to incorporate into my own workshop toolbox. If you have several lifetimes, or maybe a couple of days, there is an extraordinary show at the newly reopened Raven Row gallery – called People make Television its hours of TV from the 70s where in a modern-day short-lived experiment into public ownership of open door broadcasting the BBC provided access to cameras and the skills to make programs. All you had to do was to have an idea with a community focused issue and complete a form. Its an astounding repository, a snapshot of the 70s  in all its darkness. On the way home dropped into Big Women at Firstsite, an eclectic exhibition/collection of art made by women, the private view was solid, and it was great to meet so many familiar faces. Being in Colchester was an opportunity to check up on a large public artwork I created for Distillery Pond. Its always odd to return to former work but it was great to see that it was as I had last left it. The words cut into the stone resonated and the shape reflecting what was once there. It stands as an object that has almost lost its connection to its formation but still has purpose. Onto screens - You People – funny in parts - a return to form for Eddie Murphy, but it is what it is. The Fabelmans – awesome and so clever, a gloriously celebratory film about the making of films that explores film making. The Vow – did they run out of money at the end? The Locksmith – so many inevitable scenarios. All the bright places – just so sad. Empire of Light – gentle yet forceful.

intergenerationaltraumaexpressedthroughpaper

I've been playing with the scan created at kings after a synthetic anatomy session - very odd to see a 3D rendering of my head looking back at me. When these become our ID 'card' it will be challenged at first. The 3rd session of synthetic anatomy was all about communication, starting off by exploring symbols and graphic devices within patterns, then illustrating text with shapes and sculptural paper construction, creating creatures which led to families, touching on genetics and finally landscape building, the engagement with the process was all encompassing, developing work that was truly meaningful. Still getting over the group who created a body of work which focused on intergenerational trauma. They created one of the most striking images to come out of a workshop I have given, along with some thoughtful reflection throughout the whole group. Meanwhile onto screens Plane - it was what you expect from an action thriller staring Gerard Butler. Deep into season 2 of Hacks - truly hilarious in a painful way. 

sessiononemetaphore

The session I ran for synthetic anatomy this week was well received, with an added twist that took into account references to anatomy meant that the bag/body workshop was swimming with metaphor – a good workshop. Here is the ‘paperwork’ for the session.

Aims: The session sets out to -

· expose the students to lateral thinking and creative problem-solving activities.

· encourage the students to consider exploring the space between knowing and not knowing.

· enable the students to work independently, collaboratively and in groups.

· develop the student’s critical reflection skills

· support presentation of ideas through the role of the 'crit'.

· introduce note taking, mapping and documentation of activity to support the e-portfolio.

Structure:

· The session will be experimental, oblique and may fail, this could be something to aim for and will be celebrated.

· Some of the session will entertain but actually be irrelevant.

· Some of the session will seem irrelevant but may become the key to developing the students’ problem-solving skills.

· Participants may experience confusion but hopefully this will lead to revelation during or after the session.

· There will be no finished work, participants will emerge with many starting points to support the exploration of the creative process, to enable them to address the idea of synthetic anatomy imaginatively.

· Students will engage in several lateral thinking and creative, non-specific, multi-solution problem solving activities.

· Activities to possibly include - folding - mark making - text and image generation - listening - feeling - rules - cutting - sticking - modelling - translation - stitching - storytelling - maths - thinking - looking.

Onto screens – Till – a dauntingly powerful film that will haunt you and two films seemingly made by film students – The Price we pay and Detective Knight: Rogue then there was Tall girl which was what it was and finally not as funny as it should be – Fletch confess

relentlesslyrelentless

Experiments with the 3D printer have yielded some new work where straight lines enclose the structures – sometimes intersecting sometimes containing. Where the two structural boundaries interface some interesting shapes are created. Day one of work with students on the synthetic anatomy module – some excellent philosophical questions emerged from the bridge building session – I feel that it’s going to be a good one this year. Managed to see  Rebel Rebel - the show at the Barbican Curve by Soheila Sokhanvari is so considered. The overall design is impressive with a couple of astounding objects that present moving images in intriguing ways. Onto screens - Emancipation - a relentlessly 2D storyline. The Pale Blue Eye – so relentlessly dull that I gave up after 20 minutes! The Old Way – was relentlessly obvious.

48hoursofstuff

A busy 48 hours in London – meeting the new line up for synthetic anatomy at Kings was great – it’s going to be a good one with some interesting performative ideas to explore – it was also nice to see past models on the notice boards around the lab. Back to 3D printing – a new piece that is a replica of itself within itself. The work has the two pieces locked together reflecting themselves without touching. It’s an offshoot path of research but also related to ‘pages’ within a book in some way. Managed to check out the shows at Goldsmith’s – great work from Cinzia Ruggeri – surrealist fashion madness, Testing Ground is a wonderful set of shows at The Science Museum at Kings – Particle Shrine is particularly exciting – the installation takes live data from five cosmic ray detectors installed at Science Gallery and from the Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory in Japan to transform invisible particles into an audio-visual experience. The Horror show at Somerset House is a promising premise but curatorially lacking. So many gaps, although it was great to see Blue by Derek Jarman again. Onto screens – deep into Hacks – which explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old – darkly funny.

3donascale

My largest 3D print so far - 25 x 21 x 21 cm, transparent material, 1 layer thick, no fill, no top or bottom layer. Setting out to test the boundaries of what is possible with the machine and software parameters leads to prints that are closer to basket making than hard ‘product design’. Meanwhile screens – Fleishman is in trouble – the twisted outpouring of emotions is almost too much.

newthoughtnewyear

Had time over the break to experiment with some 3D printing – extending the process by layering onto a fabric mesh to bring flexibility to multiple forms and soaking in warm water to bring an organic feel to the structures. Onto screens - Some stand out performances, acting at its peak…..  Tar – extraordinary, frighteningly powerful. White Noise – stunning ‘commentary’ on life as well as great set design. Glass Onion – clever and witty.