Examining Everyday Notes

Examining Everyday Notes

I started to collect notes that other people had written

This is a very common form of communication, whether its a note on your bedside, note on the fridge, note on a kitchen table, people do this on a daily basis. 

I was interested to see the variety of ways people had written the message, graphology and examining the motion of text

This i enjoyed, people tend to write important messages using CAPITAL LETTERS, however this person didn't, using someone's things without permission is frowned upon, but using small text, she/he is saying it softly. Like a gentle friendly request more than a command.

This was drawn by my cousin when staying up at Scotland. This got me interested. If i had more time, i have an idea for a project. 

I would go to different chains of hotels and accommodations in the UK and collect any doodles or markings drawn onto the bedside notepads. I would then display them, trying to find if the drawings or marks differentiate depending on the location, class and reputation of the hotel. 

This was a message left behind by someone in the kitchen, "Eat me" with rolls of bread next to it. 

Capital letters state importance and feel like a command, slightly takes away the kind gesture in sharing food. 

This was obviously not "Kirsty" who wrote it, but someone her actions enough to compliment her to everyone else. Underlining "Kirsty" shows significant importance towards that person and is the main subject in this message. NOT written in capitals so its a friendlier message. Date is stated, this could mean they had a schedule, and someone else is next.

 :) indicates happiness that they now have items to clean the kitchen, stating it could have been a mess beforehand. 

These 3 were written by the same person i presume. I had gotten these in the same location. 

Writing her name at the bottom means that she wants people to know that it is her that is "FED UP", her as an individual not so much everyone is "FED UP"

Her thinking was obviously rushed, she misspelt "Clean" and wrote "CLAAN" to begin with but obviously cares about spelling mistakes and went back to correct it. 

Also the tear of the paper needs to be examined, this is an A4 paper that comes from a pad, usually they can be removed neatly but these are not, which suggest she ignored the removal function of the pad and ripped it with slight aggression which compliments the message too, time could have been an issue too.

Misspelt "Clean" again, defiantly same person writing these messages and due to the same colour, i would say all written alongside each other, one after the other. 

I love this, the end of this message has a sense of sympathy towards herself, she wants to use the sink but unable to due to its condition. Her psychology may have changed near the end, to a softer side, she didn't use capital letters for "that" so she must have has a period feeling upset or tired of this action repeating, generally upset. 

This is my favourite note!

This person took his/her time to decorate it with another colour.

At the start, the font style of overlapping scribbling may have been intended but after realising how time consuming it would be, he/her stopped and went back to smile writing. 

" ? ! " This is both a rhetorical question and a command

I liked examining these notes, i think i will continue to collect these, from everywhere i go. Show them to you at the end at a gallery space and see what you think about them and about the person who wrote them. 

Dan Colen “The Illusion of Life” (Botanic Gardens Edinburgh)

Dan Colen “The Illusion of Life”

At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

This is in fact Colen’s very first solo public exhibition in the UK.

The work in this exhibition are being exhibited for the very first time.

“Dan Colen is a hard artist to pin down. His works, aesthetically, trampolines from one discipline to another” – Newspaper Article

“I spend my daily life trying to distil what art is” – Dan Colen

These stiff static sculptures act as vessels for both containment and concealment, and by delaying the punch line, breathe new life into a tired old joke.

I wasn’t too sure about these pieces that had whoopee cushions, they were all over the room, some made with glass, some plastic, it was rather confusing yet amusing at the same time.

"Chuckles" 2013

(Chuckles bie Clown, Cardboard box reinforced with MDF, glass sphere, blue velvet ribbon, light bulbs)

Above the clown is a glass orb. This orb is a incongruously reflective symbol reappropriated from Johannes Vermeer’s Painting “The Allegory of Faith”

Colen sees Chuckles as a stand in for himself.

It was an interactive piece where people can crawl into the boxes, get to either of the two ends, and at the end there is a switch, pull to turn on the light bulb.

The space was lovely, not much artificial light, mostly natural light which links in really well with the flower paintings. 

“Like a Virgin” 2013

Vintage coke bottle

Motor

This in my opinion was badly displayed.

When I walked in, I had no idea it was there, no sign or labels indicating it was there, I could have very easily kicked it accidentally and broke it.

We spoke to the lady supervising the room and she said that the bottle represents a truth and dare game.

The motor allows the bottle to move occasionally

“The Illusion of life”

2013

Catalogues, Metal Pole

This was the piece of literature that inspired him to create this artwork; this was an inspiration for him.

When I first looked at these, I had several thoughts.

It could be watercolors or food coloring.

Then I had a closer look, there were colored leaves that were lightly stuck on, I say this because as I got closer, I blew onto the painting and little particles of something flew off.

It looked aesthetically pleasing from up close and from a distance.

It hinted an impressionist theme within the image. Like light was bouncing off and through tree leaves, captured the image and painted it on canvas

These pieces were physically delicate and finely detailed.

They are produced by hammering and smashing thousands of artificially dyed flowers (‘Deli’ flowers and ‘Grave’ flowers of the sort commonly sold in New York delicatessens) and roses onto unbleached Belgian Linen.

 Colen “tries to let the flowers make the painting”

“I knew then that this was the place for the first flower show,” – Dan Colen

Dan Colen’s artwork here is infused with magic and joy