Symposium Beforehand (at Tate Britain) - Initial ideas, Planning, Making and Site Visit

Symposium Beforehand (at Tate Britain) - Initial ideas, Planning, Making and Site Visit 

Initial Ideas

We sat down to discuss initial ideas 

Many ideas were being flung around but what stuck from the very beginning was that it should be something visual, a video piece. 

We talked about getting the audience to participate in the presentation. 

Speaking. 

Statements

Then Jan, our new member to the group, he showed us his work that he has been doing. It consists of multiple videos being played on a screen, flashing, repeating. 

This then led to us talking about how we should find clips and images of appropriated themed images and videos. 

We discussed what there was, and there was a lot. 

-Hitler speech 

-Chaplin Speech

-Kennedy Speech 

-Martin Luther King Speech

-9/11

-Hindenburg

-Famous speeches from presidents 

-Clips from TV

-Famous internet clips 

-Clips from shows such as "The Simpsons" that have appropriated from historical events and people figures as well as internet memes and such

-Godzilla New york

-King Kong New York

and so on.........

so our task was to find as many of these clips as possible, collect these and transform it into a video piece

Planning

This is a rough layout plan we had in place 

We created a Facebook communication page between the four of us so that we could change our ideas and put on any clips that we find that can go towards our video 

Making

Making process of this video was using a software called iMovies

We used the clips we found and put them together, editing, altering video and sound

Site Visit

The site visit was very interesting.

It wasn't as big as we all thought, the space we mean

The projector screen was big though, very wide 

We were discussing about how big our video will look on the screen, which isn't necessarily a bad thing as it will make viewers more engaging. 

Its good that ours is a video because first, it will mean the lights are off meaning that we can't see the walls. In my opinion the orange on the walls are a little bit out of place. Secondly the stage is rather small, if it were a performance as such, we may not have enough room. 

Cant Wait.....

Gallery Visits 24/1/15

Gallery Visits 24/1/15

Went to the Green Park area to view allergies for the weekend 

Good thing about this area is that there are lots of small little galleries around next to the big Royal Academy of Art so theres plenty to see and a wide range of artwork and style to view. 

As i was approaching the RA, I noticed this. 

The Swastika Sign on the walls of the Tate 

This reminded me of the theme Appropriation and the presentation we had discussing this sign.  

This is a good thing, because of this TOP group exercise we have going, it allows me to use continuously think about it outside of university as well, this means i see more in the outside world.

TOP is more effective to my perspective in the outside world of art as well as my practice more than i know 

Throughout history it has been appropriated and altered in more ways than one 

This was the first Exhibition we saw at the RA 

PACE LONDON

Hiroshi Sugimoto "Still Life" 

This exhibition consists of 13 large format photographs from the artists ongoing series Diorama series executed between 1976 and 2012. 

It didn't have much to do with appropriation nor my stye of practice 

Looking at how people interact with the scale of photographs and where they stand to look at what subject n the photograph.

The Alan Cristea Gallery - Christane Baumgartner " Totentanz"

I saw a little of how i may present my paintings in this exhibition. See how its 5 x 3 

I imagined a presentational layout with my paintings similar to this 

Other smaller galleries i visited on the way, some sold paintings, 

I was looking carefully at the labels 

The reasons for this is because i was planning for our Off Site Exhibitions this term .

I want an exhibition where we will sell our work 

Therfore i was looking at the layouts of the label 

What was needed to be put on 

Castle Galleries - FOX presents the films of MARILYN. The diamond dust collection by Simon Claridge

I walked by and i noticed an exhibition on Marilyn. This linked into appropriation and part of the video that we were making for the symposium. 

Decided to have a look

He used a medium in which i rarely see 

I know that a rendition of Marilyn's song was 'Diamonds are a girls best friend" 

Could this be the reason the artist decided to use Diamond dust as a medium?

Diamond Dust was "Perhaps most famously used by Andy Warhol" 

"Ive always regarded myself as a portrait painter - it's where my passion lies - and for me the screen shots of Marilyn from her Fox movies are the ultimate portrait. It doesn't get any better." - Simon Claridge

Continuing.....

Continuing.....

So during the Christmas break, i decided to read a few books. This was one of them

"Steal Like an Artist" by Austin Kleon
This was a part of TOP but this task in TOP and appropriation has also deeply affected my practice.

The best thing is, my practice is directly linked in with my TOP

The more i read, the more connections i made with my work and the theme of Appropriation. 

Now ill be giving you quotes from the book now and then, i marked them down as i read the book. 

Oe quote inside said "Art is Theft" 

Know who said that?

Pablo Picasso

Who did you know appropriated from Rembrandt. 

This is Brick Lane Market #6, 2015 

This i painted near the end of 2014. 

I really enjoyed this piece because one of the early layers was the bunny rabbit drawing in the background, then i was revolving the graffiti around the eye as the centre piece. 

I like how the eye has this dark seemingly endless visual outcome more or less right in the middle of the painting, with its white splatters of paint, it seems like a never ending universe 

Almost a story 

I mentioned in one of the earlier blogs that we went to visit the British Museum last year, and went to study a few paintings. 

Two of the paintings we visited was one by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, and the other was a Goya drawing. 

Now the story here is, Goya, was a great admirer of Tiepolo's work and copied his style. He wanted to learn his style, master it. This is like me and my work, me copying the style of graffiti artist out in London but the only difference is, I'm changing the medium and surface in which i apply the work on. 

A quote from the book in a way, helped me, made sense, on what is plagiarism. 

" If you copy from one author, its plagiarism, but if you copy from many, its research" - Wilson Mizner 

Throughtout this territories of practice, it has been insightful

I am in a group with 2 girls, whom do video. I do painting. 

Yes its different but it is really interesting to expand my knowledge on the subject of appropriation throughout different disciplines within art, not just painting. 

But the subject of appropriation is beginning to be too focused. 

It is better to have a broad knowledge of different theories and themes of art, yet us concentrating solely on Appropriation can cause us to loose sight of other things around us. 

Its been good so far. Now for the Symposium.....

Brick Lane Market #7, 2014

What really captivates me from this piece is that it is rather narrative. It speaks. like a debate or disagreement of something, an essence of dispute and anger yet the colours contradicts that

The painting argues with itself through subject and colour 

Brick Lane Market #8, 2014

Brick Lane Market #9, 2015

As you can see, the previous pieces i used a kind of, glossy acrylic paint 

In this most recent piece i did not. The background i though in my opinion may have been to bright therefore i decided not to do it. 

Keep you Updated !!

E.

Halcyon Gallery - Dale Chihuly "Lumiere"

Halcyon Gallery - Dale Chihuly "Lumiere" 

Before the start of the new term, i had arrived to London early, sending time with the family before sending my little brother off to school in North Yorkshire. 

We came across the Halcyon Gallery in the evening and the interior was glowing, you could see the illumines-sense from the outside 

This immediate turned our heads as it caught out attention 

Inside was an exhibition exhibiting Dale Chihuly, who in this series of work made Acrylic Light Drawings!

Lumiere is the first exhibition of Dale Chihuly's Acrylic light drawings. 

This style of his has been developing throughout his carer. "Beginning as illustrative tools used to direct and inspire his visions for glass - his drawings have become increasingly important as independent outlets for his expressions, whilst simultaneously providing a vital means for him to release his energy" 

His work is very expressive and abstract

From the light, you could see almost completely through the acrylic paint, which gives the audience a visual texture. Like there a more mark makings within the marks itself!! Brilliant concept 

"Somebody once said people become artist because they have a certain kind of energy to release. That rings true to me. it must have an outlet. Thats why i draw" - Dale Chihuly

 Chihuly's Work has no direct link to my work

Yes it is colourful but the  is somewhat different. Mark makings are in few aspects similar. 

It is however very interesting to see this kind of concept. this new innovative idea being processed and seen. Very interesting

Not only paintings but sculptures too. 

They make wonderful interior designs and possibly an iconic feature 

The overall curation of the place was impressive. 

I enjoyed this show very much. 

Unit 5 Territories of Practice: Bridget Riley Art Foundation Workshops at the British Museum

Unit 5 Territories of Practice: Bridget Riley Art Foundation Workshops at the British Museum 

This was an amazing day

We went to the British museum to see first hand work close up, not many people get the opportunity to do this and it was a privilege to do so.

This was great for TOP.

Seeing work close up 

The work that they helped bring out was for our group which were concentrating on the subject of appropriation. 

All the works that were laid out was in the topic of appropriation

This was great for our TOP group, we aw different styles of appropriation and other artist using it in their own practice not only now in this century but throughout history 

Seeing the masters appropriate off each other for different purposes was insightful

It surely is different to the likes of Jeff Koons now and it seems that the laws and rules on appropriation was a lot less strict back in the days. 

There were pieces where artist took everyday images and recontexualized its content

There were pieces where artists learn from each other, copying past masters technique and style 

There were artist who appropriated from Poems and literature. 

Political Appropriations

cultural appropriations

Style 

techniques

Copying from sculptures, changing the context...

Loads

This day definitely expanded my knowledge on the topic of appropriation. This sessions really helped!!!

I found these in the corner, it had the images on and descriptions of every single piece shown to us.

Whats best is that we have the opportunity to go back, with a list of pieces we can go see first hand. 

this is a great opportunity 

This was very helpful towards our TOP

I think today was the day i really started to understand the history of Appropriation and how it developed throughout the years. 

Gallery visits December 2014

Gallery visits December 2014

Tate Modern : Sigmar Polke

When we went to these gallery visits as a group, we scouted out the symbols and context that had a strong relationship with "Appropriation" which was the topic we were discussing about

This piece was interesting, painted on bubble wrap, found material. Raw material

The Swastika originally was considered to be a very sacred symbol in Hindusim, originally perceived as a symbol of success and promising fortune. It was later appropriated and altered by the Nazis. 

Other things like the symbol of the Eagle, used in the Nazis as a symbol of strength is now also used in todays world, American symbol too. 

Tate Modern: Omer Fast - "The Casting"

This was a really interesting piece, 4 videos being projected onto both sides of the 2 slides, a story was being told. Composition. 

Serpentine Gallery: Reiner Ruthenbeck

Lots of found material used by Ruthenbeck

Tables, paper, rope, everyday items altered and recontexualized for the viewers. 

It changes your perspective on how you see the subjects. 

Tables aren't usually seen from this angle 

And even if you have the urge to fix it, you can't because there is a line that prevents you from entering. 

Serpentine Sackler Gallery: Julio Le Parc

Parc uses a lot of political figures in his work but he alters them to make it playful and less serious. 

He made games for all ages to interact and play with. 

All this research and gallery visits brought us onto our presentation in which we made for the unit. 

 Our presentation went rather well in my opinion. Really well

We talked fluidly about the subject of appropriation and when it got to the questions part at the end, this subject brought in many questions. 

The discussion between us nearly went on longer than the presentation itself.

Overall this was really beneficial, it extended our knowledge on the subject of appropriation, it brought different views and opinions together that helps with our perception of different kinds of views on appropriation which will help develop our practice.