#curated experiments

Task 3: Curated Experiments - Exploring Concepts: Finding Beam-o

So I stumbled upon this object trying to get into the car a couple nights ago, which was parked alongside a cleanup pile, and thought it looked pretty rad. (why would u not split it and put the bottle in the recycle tho??) It’s original state was comfortably nestled in the grass next to the pile, sticky, covered in grimy dust, a couple of cobwebs and with the bronze sheen of a few mLs of leftover whiskey, in almost complete shadow with the glow from a distant streetlamp illuminating the bottle and it’s contents. To most it was and definitely is garbage, but idk it held a certain charm and allure at the time. Not the most familiar with alcohol, I had to ask my dad what it’s point was, and it’s just a wireframe that helps you freely pour and safely tip the heavy bottle. I didn’t really want to clean it, the object being cool as it was, but I separated the pair and cleaned it out with soap and water and wiped down the rack. 

What concept does this fit under? I basically just curated an object.     - Experimentation: Everything with it so far has been what if? I took this home, what if I cleaned it, what if I did this to it? I’m not a sculptor and I hate found object art, so what if I used a found object?    - Vagueness: Most of the in class I’ve done in groups or otherwise has been this, because everything arty seems to fit. Would like to do something else. Without the liquid does it have purpose? Is it now vagued? The rack by itself certainly is vague.   - Documentation/Editing: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯   - Erasure: Of the contents? done for me already! Erasing the label??   - Perception: Purpose, ice tea and what we see, what we’re told?   - Failure: N/A   - Repetition: I could repeat/loop/gif/edit the video I made of it tilting/pouring? Could collect a series of glass bottles?   - Chance: Definitely. I did find it... by chance.

During cleaning I discovered a couple things:

1. The glass stayed kind of dull. But the refraction of light in the downlights was appealing. 2. The bottle which I’d originally thought was pretty awesome in size and shape wasn’t as cool without it’s dispenser. The suspended motion and angle definitely added something to it. 3. The rack is pretty cool by itself, and has a very specific purpose but without the bottle it might be used for anything even with the obvious shape. 4. BUBBLES. I made a lot of bubbles trying to clean it. Submerging the bottle created loads of bubbles as the water displaced it’s air. There’s even still bubbles in the bottleneck hours later. Other thoughts I had:

- I wonder if I could put something in the bottle? Paint the inside, give it an atmosphere, change its purpose, create within the object.. but I don’t want to do the tedious process of making a ship in a bottle, no time. - Haha, whiskey. For someone who can’t really drink for health reasons and doesn’t drink to get plastered anyways it’s amusing/ironic I have this, evidence of a copious amount of high % alcohol in my possession. Parallels to the detox tea I have to drink and carry around with me in my clear student water bottle thats’ square shape is reminiscent of a flask and has a surprising amount of uni students tell me that it looks like whiskey and ask if I am in fact drinking alcohol in class. - Wait, what if I just filled the bottle with ice tea and handed that in?  It’s a subversion of it’s purpose of sorts, or humorous to me at least, a comment on alcohol perhaps.

Curated Experiment Three: Text, Text, Text

Curated Experiment Two: Connection with Nature

Curated Experiment One

final work || statement

• sound component link: https://soundcloud.com/user-905695757/sound-component-for-untitled-2016curated-experiments

Untitled (2016) Objects, Digital Images, Sound Continuing my investigation into the spectral quality of light in my first assignment, I carried out a series of experiments using holographic, reflective materials to project light onto a human figure, that is myself. I discovered that by capturing these images with photographic techniques like long exposure and deliberate off-focus, a vague image of myself is generated: my facial features blurred, drenched in rainbow-coloured light. Set against a dark background, the saturated coloured are amplified, creating an atmospheric touch that is bleak but a bit ethereal. With every photograph taken, I explored many minor factors that can alter the results: the angle of the light source, using different torches and different reflective materials. More importantly I explored the impact of my movements and expressions, from minimal to wild. Like an alternative type of light painting. my body leaves a trail of light that distorts and defaces the recognisable self. I am confronted with an alien face, that is in some instances, terrifying, stripped of human features. Conceptually, experimenting has allowed me to explore emotions possibly evoked. My intent has shifted from creating ethereal, serene photographs to obscure ones that are open to interpretation. The vibrant, garish colours in the dark are reminiscent of the atmosphere in dance clubs, a place where people can temporarily lose themselves, surrendering to the external impact of flashing lights and booming music. They are also evocative of drug-induced hallucinations that radically alters one’s sense of self, as some images are quite disturbing where my twisted, vacant expressions are suggestive of a drugged-out person. Eventually, I selected quite neutral images, where my body language is hard to decipher, that only vaguely suggest the above ideas. Contrary to the connotations of party culture, my work becomes a space for solitude and quietness. The accompanying soundtrack is composed of muffled electronic dance music and ambient soundtracks that hopefully calls forth rumination. Initially, I wanted to present my images in a prism as a response to how it magically (scientifically) separates colours within white light. Now, I see three images against one another, enclosed, there is an introspective quality about it. This form relates to how our notion of self is obscured because we present different sides of ourselves, real or hallucinatory, they bleed into each other. Therefore, experimentation has not only impacted on my material exploration but also urges me to consider the development in conceptual meaning.

“Muffled Club Mix Loop” by Minimoog Voyager https://youtu.be/iyxxg3ll8xI

“Fresh Club Beat - Mega Bass[2015] Instrumental” by Vido Beats https://youtu.be/wYvlQmSzwNE

“Grouper - She Loves Me That Way” https://youtu.be/_shjVPzb6eY

“Kría Brekkan - Uterus Water” https://youtu.be/swjLt4mjQZM

“Peder B. Helland - Post War” https://youtu.be/iPR3I_Mq-jY