#time based project

Language Task

Notes

Collection of thoughts and other things said about the task

•It’s really quite interesting that, when the sequence is reversed, it appears that the subject is being influenced by external forces and tries to keep the pressure in. Quite the opposite compared to my initial theme, where the subject is being affected by their own internal pressure that they put into themselves.

•Connecting to the previous thought; it can be interpreted as, the subject being affected by all kinds of factors if you dismiss the fact that the sequence is supposed to follow a linear/ one way direction. The subject in the middle symbolises that they are the ones that are one stuck right at the middle of everything. 

•Choosing between using either “words” or “thoughts” as the ongoing text for the sequence was very tough, but I made my choice and here are my reasons for my verdict. First of, I felt that the former has a better connection with the idea of “language”; there is a better sense of verbal communication, and the fact that what we say are “words”, it’s a clear indication that the subject is trying to say something. While the latter is far more rooted in visual communication, where if the person tries to tell me there are thoughts in their head, I would imagine someone with an imaginative mind rather than being troubled by something. Which is to say that when someone does say that they have thoughts in their head, it can mean that they are troubled, but when it is being expressed that there is unspoken words (feelings) that needs to be let out, I feel that, it is definitely more effective.

Project #1 “Language”

Evaluation

I feel that it was a pretty successful artwork because it demonstrates the time-based aspects well; there is a clear sense of movement, and/or the passing of time. The sequence follows a the linear movement, the image moving from the left side of the page to the right. Finally, I feel that I followed the theme for the task well which makes the final piece understandable and fair to interpret.

Of course there are aspects that I felt was lacking, one example is the photo-shopped images. I feel that they could be done better, because they appear to be a bit too cubic, yet I want the subject to look very human. However I know that with a bit of time I feel that I could’ve definitely done better. Honestly I feel that the photo-shops, in general could’ve used with a bit of a touch up, or just redone with an alternative technique.

Artist Research - Henrietta Harris pt 2

There are so many other reasons why I chose Henrietta Harris as my first artist to research. Firstly she is an artist that I have known of previously, therefore I am quite comfortable with the way I can handle the research. Secondly, her work is actually really good at enabling the impression of movement and change, similar to a time-based work.

It’s interesting to note that she does this without actually being considered as  a contributor to time-based art.

Ventral Stream - 2013 / Victoria - 2013

Ventral Stream shows a form of change; the subject moves from surrealism to normalcy. This is quite obvious at first glance, looking at the different stages, from left to right, the subject doesn’t even have the top side of his face. The second stage, the top half is slowly connecting to the lower half of his face. Finally, the subject has a fully assembled face. Again very simple to follow, which I like, not only is the painting really more about style, but there is a fair few rooms for substance (I’ll leave it up to you to interpret).

In fact a lot of Harris’ work, containing people as subjects, conveys change; movement, the passing of time and even the passing of an emotion.

.Fixed It II, III, V and VIII - 2016

Fixed It explains the idea of an individual’s emotional transition really well. The first thing that people will notice is how the subject’s face is over-layed with a messy coat of pink, which covers most of the facial features. When trying to look through the pink layer, you can kinda tell that the faces underneath are actually well painted with a lot of time and care given into them. it’s very interesting, the artist seems to, at some point, given up on her painting, or became very angry and just started to mess it all up. it’s basically expressing how a simple destructive act can be a massive blow to a piece that’s been so thoroughly formed. Its a good showcase on an individuals patience, and how fragile it can be. I definitely like this collection purely for it’s simple, yet wonderfully constructed visuals.

Artist Research - Henrietta Harris pt 1

Flee - 2012

The first time the class was asked to research an artist, it was recommended to research an artist who has close ties to the current project (at that time it was the time-based taster project). However, I did not do that, instead I chose an artist with closer ties to traditional art.

Henrietta Harris is an illustrator, first and foremost, which is why her work often depicts people with faces displaced, and landscapes at the foreground with a red sunlight. Already stand out artist with her distinctive approach to realistic portraiture; showcasing highly detailed tonal shifts around the neck and at the folds of the subject’s eyelids, and in the Landscapes and Features collection, the hair is well highlighted just by the immense detail and care put to each strand and fold. The addition of the abstract language only makes for an even more unique illustration.

Wild - 2013

Her process is quite interesting; starting from a photograph, she then plays about with it on Photoshop, moving areas of the face around, and even removing some aspects. It is very carefully planned, with many stages, and she follows this process precisely so that the final paintings/drawings will benefit from a very good example to follow.

Landscapes and Features 2 - 2015