CDP VIS3001

At the start of the module I understood the project to be about experimenting with a living organism rather than just taking inspiration from it. Bio art to me meant using scientific methods to create art or actually using something like bacteria in the making. To learn more about the subject I used Pinterest to search for images, used multiple artistic websites to find creators and used Youtube to watch videos. All of this research helped me gain new perspectives and knowledge on the subject. Context for this project was very important as it allowed me to link my ideas together. Each piece of work I made at the beginning of the module was purely experimental until I developed more of an idea of where my work was headed and then each piece of work had a meaning behind it. I thought about the colour, the environment and how it related to myself. Although my developed pieces did not relate to my major research, it was that research about the senses and the body that lead me to the idea of using myself as the test subject. This research also had me questioning approaches to my work and how I could lay it out. I think my strongest ideas came from when I was using myself as the test subject. This approach allowed me to really think about myself and get close to things like my sleep pattern and habits. This allowed for more meaning to be put into the work.

During the course of the module I learnt how to heat press which was a new technique to me. Whilst I didn’t use it further in the module it is something I’m interested in doing again. The automatic drawing to sound was an interesting workshop as I realised sound could make patterns. This did somewhat carry on into my later work as I created work out of my sleep graphs that monitor what sounds I make during the night therefor creating a sleep cycle. I had done a lot of mono print in previous years so that workshop was fun but it was the 3D workshop I enjoyed the most. During this time I was able to create a cardboard maquette that would appear in a video representing an important aspect of my work.  As I was experimenting on myself it was sometimes difficult to take images of myself and in future a tripod would definitely make this easier. I chose video as my main medium as I felt it related strongly to my theme of intrusion. Taking videos of myself felt very personal and I was letting the audience into my personal space. It was also because I came to the conclusion that documenting myself was an aspect of bio art and using myself as the test subject linked to that too.

To me the most successful aspect of my project was the development of certain pieces and the context behind my pieces. I believe I experimented in lots of different ways though medium, scale and processes. I believe I successfully responded to my research and work as well as the tutorial feedback I was given. I took my tutors feedback from my last module too which was to challenge myself and take risks through scale or materials. Both learning outcomes were met multiple times and I’m happy with the time and effort I put into the project. I also managed my time well. 

In this society everybody is affected by EMF’s in one way or another. Sources of these include power lines, electrical wiring, and electrical appliances such as shavers, hair dryers, and electric blankets. Our computer screens, phone screens and TV’s alone give off high amounts of the damaging frequencies. As a society it’s also normalised to keep busy, consume and disconnect from our bodies. We see this in virtual reality gaming, in hundreds of advertisements telling us about the latest product we must have and to chase after a 9-5 we are not passion about. When looking at my work the audience can relate to each piece in their own way;

In the triptych video of me in my bed with a torch pointed at me I believe viewers will be able to look at this and relate in many different ways. Some may see the torch as a spotlight and relate it to their over active thoughts they get when they are trying to sleep - like their brain lights up with all this information at the wrong time. Others may see the torch illuminating the wires attached to my bed and it could trigger the realisation that our sleeping is affected by the electricity in our homes. Another way someone may relate to this piece of work is seeing how long it takes for me to fall asleep and they could relate to that if they have sleep issues such as insomnia.

The video I took of my tired eyes with my sleep cycle layered on top might make the audience feel tired themselves. Watching someone rub their eyes will surely be relatable as everyone has experienced tiredness and fatigue whether it’s relating to work, stress, family and so on. The zigzag pattern made from my sleep cycle graphs is meant to seem complex in colour and shapes commenting on how our sleep state isn't always relaxing. People can relate to this differently. Sleep disturbances in one person may be from their child while sleep disturbances in another person may be from vivid dreams.

When the audience see my installation piece of my pillow wrapped up in wires I want it to make them feel uncomfortable. A pillow is something that is meant to provoke feelings of rest and comfort but with the added router and wires this won’t be the case. A harsh spotlight will be shining down from the ceiling at this piece to represent the illumination of the scary truth that we are exposed to these WIFI frequencies in what’s meant to be a rejuvenating state. The audience will look at these juxtaposing items and be able to relate as everyone will have one of each in their own home. 

Triptych video projection

Eye and sleep pattern video projection 

3D pillow ad WIFI installation

Bed unmade x7 (7 days a week)

“You’ve integrated your work and research well. I like how you start off with lot’s of research and then you get specific with the sleep patterns and using yourself as the test subject. I think you need to now talk about what went wrong and what went well for you. And keep thinking yourself as the test subject. You’ve done a variety of experimental work and that’s evident, you just need to bring it to an end and talk about your artists, how you were influenced and if you were to repeat it all again, what would you do differently?”

Here I have two juxtaposing themes, comfort and intrusion, shown in objects from my personal life. My pillow represents comfort, rest and has a soft texture to it. On the other hand, the wires and router are hard and rigid in form. When connected to a power source, electricity would be running through the wires and EMF’s would be given off - the opposite to something resting. 

Critical comments from peers

Look into symbology of intrusion, comfort

Make a GIF of the bed cut outs, morning to night

Link with audience - How can they relate? What do I want them to feel?

Research on Julian Wearing

My work has lot’s of outcomes all on the same message - invasion, external rhythms 

Potential gallery layout for all the pieces together

Talk about context - meaning, how I display each piece

Context regarding the colour blue and the bed

Propose other ideas in blog that I could have included if I had extended time

I’ve drawn a few variations to the layout I'm thinking of setting up. My maquette represents my dream cycle in a physical way and so it has been placed on the side I sleep on just above my head. I’ve then merged my bed frame and wires from my old WIFI router together to visually communicate their interaction with one another in a more obvious way. Sleeping is supposed to be a restful time when our bodies can repair and recharge but in this society we are constantly exposed to EMF’s which affect this. 

https://www.ecosa.com/blog/post/cant-sleep-lets-talk-about-low-frequency-emfs.html

Next 2 weeks - MAKING, EXPERIMENTING, DOING

I AM THE TEST SUBJECT

Dig deeper into blue meaning, add appropriate source

Include arrows to edited Picsart image to present my findings in a more scientific way

Take photos of the patterns/markings of my sheets/duvet/pillows throughout the night

GIF of bed

Record a full night’s sleep (performative element)

Hang maquette above head/bed

Use wires from old wifi router, exploring how we are effected by wifi and even when we are asleep we have lot’s of wires and electricity on around us

Use body to paint on patterns eg heart beat, brain waves. Showing the internal externally (performative element) (already created heart beat piece that sits on top of my skin)

Explore our obsession with monitoring - recording my sleep creating an invasive scene/ we’re still busy even when we’re asleep/ simple activity actually creates a lot of outcomes (this is creating a narrative)