'In our most intimate relations we acknowledge and engage in this non-verbal form of communication. It is one of the ways, perhaps the most effective, that we can come to fully know another: 'Kisses tattoo my skin, leaving a Braille only your fingertips read' In reading that Braille we are accessing our own personal vocabulary of touch, a vocabulary that we have been accumulating from the moment we were born. Without such points of tactile reference there would be no textural reading, understanding or dialogue.' (Surface Tensions-Surface Finish and the Meaning of Objects, 2013, Manchester University Press, USA) There is no getting away from the fact that my practice always comes back to the physicality of materials, the tensions and haptic response connecting or engaging with surfaces convey. I am a great believer in the power of touch and the physical contact between each other. The act of touching someone can resonate powerful emotions of well being. The reasons we go to touch is to make that person feel reassured, cared for and closer to us. Expression on a physical level can bring two identities together and generate extremely powerful responses. The bringing together of materials and surfaces; making with our hands, generates levels of well being and satisfaction in much the same way. In todays world we communicate so much more through flat digital technology and no longer communicate by physical interaction or materials. As an audience technology enables us to participate in non verbal communication. We have the tools; our hands to do so, but we have always had these tools and they are able to do so much more….we are losing the ability to really ‘experience' I wonder about the next generation and how they will cope or deal with the 'real world'!
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Chatting to my fellow student Ali yesterday highlighted how much I do work with only recycled and foraged materials. I have come to realize that this is one of the important aspects of my practice. Everything I use from my equipment to my materials are either recycled or foraged. I want to visualize that it is possible to make and produce work without expensive materials and equipment. I want to show the fragility of life through this recycling process.
Visited Saltaire today and although not a great lover of David Hockney's work I did find his iPad paintings pretty spectacular! I thought his description of the way the seasons change and the contrast between winter and summer just spot on. You do need to experience winter and the bleakness of it before you can appreciate the lushness of Spring and Summer. Although painting on an iPad leaves me cold! I can appreciate the speed in which a painting can be created using this device....light, vegetation and the elements can change a scene within seconds. He has managed to make a very flat medium visualize such atmospheric images with a very limited colour palette.
https://www.slow-watches.com/
Just seen these advertised on Twitter and find their concept really interesting. No other hands are on the face just a 24 hour hand and the dial is broken down into the 24 hours of the day. What a really fantastic way of viewing the day and the time we have. I am sure this concept forces the individual to take stock of the day as a whole, slow down and evaluate the time we dedicate to all the mountain of things we try to cram into or days. It also reflects how we are now a 24 hour society and continue to function on a continual basis; this however is not something I am sure is good for us! Must look at this visual and 24 hour physical time in more depth; how can I take this concept forward and embed into my work and practice???? #slowmovement
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MA Creative Practice
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