Tuesday 17 April 2012

Thereis no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of
tea.’
I have always been inspired by fabrics, thetexture and the idea that you want to touch and interact with the piece is whatinspires me the most. I came across the fabric tea bags working in John Lewis; I thought they looked so delicate and dainty that I wanted to experiment further with the object. I began with the photographs, the photographs are abstract close ups of the tea bag fabric, I liked the effect the abstract quality the idea that you don’t quite know what it is. From this I began to interact with the teabags more embroidering and sewing making them more personal for anyone that interacts with the object. It’s no longer just a teabag, it’s a message; words that everyone can relate to, words that crop up on everyone’s daily routine, everyone’s daily tea/coffee break.

The words within them and embroidered on to the tea bags comes from my research into the idea of what people discuss over a tea or coffee break. From listening into different conversations and analysing my own, I have heard some funny, ridiculous and quite intense things. From this I began to encase the words within the teabags as a metaphor for conversation or a conversation that has happened. The fabric pieces if the abstract faces represent expressions I have observed for my research, the expressions are from memory which is what makes them somewhat abstract and dreamlike; they represent the conversations that I have listened to and had myself, that are now just a distant memory and a thing of the past, some stick out more than others and some are very vague. But they still happened and are still happening now, as I type this, all around me. We are always surrounded by the presence of Human Beings.

Saturday 14 April 2012




Another visit to the Cafe / Bar = More Pictures.
My Experience

For me exhibiting in a public area that is seen all the time by everyday people was the ultimate goal for this project. I am honored to have the amount of time given to exhibit my work. The idea that my pieces are placed in an environment were they are having an impact on members of the general public is what makes this experience so great for me, I hope that my work is having an impact on somebody, anybody even just for a second then my work has been a success. I would like to think that my work is representing the everyday well and is a metaphor for all the conversations that are taking place within the exhibition space right now. The overall experience has been great and it has definitely inspired me to get involved in more exhibitions or even organise my own with fellow artists.
Opening Night
03/04/2012 - 21/04/2012

Being one of my first exhibitions in a public space I was quite nervous. We used social networking to promote our event also (Groys' theory of autonomy and the idea that social networking is a good aid to artists.) The opening night went great, and our friends and family came to support us which was fantastic. Here are some pictures of my work hung within the space as well as images of the crowd and the space within the bar/cafe.




Quick talk about Boris Groys.
'Self Design and Aesthetic Responsibility'

Boris Groys talks about the idea that the people are only interested in the artist. Therefore raising the question, does the artist just produce what the public want to see? The idea that a description isn't enough they need to know and recognise the artists name.
So what does this mean for up and coming contemporary artists? Does this mean we have to almost sugar coat our ideas and pieces to please the public? Do we then have to realise what the public want and then make that our practice?

The idea of Celeb vs. Artist - the role of the media. The mass media is like a massive artist manipulating the public into what is good and what is bad. Therefore artists that are talked about within the media are the only ones that are known. These types of artists are working toward what the public 'expects' to see for example the work will never go past the aesthetics.

If Artists use cultural debate and Social Politics they indeed grab the attention of the mass media as they are creating a political statement.

Another example is Banksy, he as a graffiti artist is considered to be breaking the law. However everyone knows of him because of his bold statements with aesthetically pleasing images plastered onto the sides of buildings etc. Supporting the idea that any press is good press.


Exhibition Leaflets, Flyers and Posters set up in MelloMello.
The Exhibition.

For our module it is compulsory to exhibit your work within a public place of your choice.

Myself and four other fellow students are exhibiting in MelloMello, Slater Street, Liverpool.

MelloMello is cafe/ bar, a bohemian space with a alternative feel. I have always felt strongly about putting art within a public space. So that people can view, observe and absorb your work take it in and let it influence their views and have an impact on their day. I felt that my pieces and ideas originating from the cafe environment that they would work best within that environment. The environment were my idea originated. With people surrounding the work drinking tea and coffee looking at my work and subconsciously taking in the meaning. The people surrounding the work automatically become the work. After all the pieces are metaphors for human presence, human behaviour and the everyday. The faces are imaginary beings that I have witnessed on my travels so in some ways they become the work.

The exhibition is titled 'Rituals a practice in progress' with the idea being that because we are second years that our practice is not complete and we did not in some ways did not want to label it complete because in our opinion nothing is ever complete.