Wednesday 6th October

Liverpool Biennial Touched
A Foundation visit


The A Foundation has most probably been my favourite exhibition visit so far. I found the space alone really interesting, and how there seemed to be a contrast between old and new qualities combined together. I think this made it appear a more interesting art space and well organised. I also liked how there was a member of the A Foundation team there to guide us around the space and to answer any of our questions about the work, which they answered well and in great depth, giving us a better understanding and insight into the work.
The works in this exhibition made me think much more about my own work and how differently similar topics can be expressed and presented.


The artist that fascinated me beyond anything was Sachiko Abe with her performance, drawing, film and sculptural installations, 'Cut Paper, 2010', which I am sure most people have also stated.
On first entering the room, I didn't notice the artist herself sat above, performing as part of the work. I was automatically distracted by the huge collection of paper cuttings set up in the centre of the room, alongside the sound of the cutting of the paper, (which I later discovered was a live sound coming from the microphone which was attactched o her scissors).

Exploring duration, repetition and constraints over the last seven years is beyond a commitment to the work. I found the whole process of continuous routine mesmerising, I could have literally stayed and watched her throughout her daily sessions.
Although Sachiko Abe states herself "my work is neither beautiful nor meditational", I found for me this was the case. The set up of the paper alone is beautiful, and so perfectly cut. And it seems like she was in a transe like state almost doing this, unaware of her surroundings and the many people walking in and out of the room, as if she just switched off. However, I noticed at one point that she stopped cutting as people were making to much noise, they distracted her, which she later apologised for later as she passed us.

The drawing works I also loved, which like 'Cut Papers', Abs spends intensive durational periods of time drawing, producing an intricate graphic weave, again transforming a white sheet of paper. Again these works are beautiful and deffinitely intreguing. I felt mself staring at the precise detail. I'm amazed at how she got eac tiny circle shape the same by hand, I also really like the bottom of the large piece, it looked like a ripped edge of a sheet of paper and kneeling on the cushions which were provided on the floor made it easier to see the detail- feeling almost part of the work. I feel I connected with these series of drawings as it reminded me of works I did in the past of repetitious writing.

I also found the video piece really interesting and again quite medative but I preffered to watch her in person, I felt more connected. I am so glad that I've had the opportunity to see her work, it was definitely an experience.

The performance, video and photography works by Anitti Laitinen I also found quite interesting. I enjoyed the personal endurance he commited into his collection of his works and his almost dilusional imagination thats quite obvious to see in the extremely demanding  tasks. Although there was only certain pieces I really loved.

'Walk the line', I personally really enjoyed. The end combined piece caught my eye straight away, even more so after been told that the lines of his face were created by walking through the forest with a devise attatched to him capturing his movement. The idea alone is a great one and links perfectly with his other works and ideas.

I also found myself attracted to the installation 'Three Stones', which simply held three stones in which he collected after 7 minutes, 7 hours and 7 days of digging a huge hole in the floor. I'm unsure as to why I like this so much, it's beyond simplicity but presented alone with the information in a glass case I think worked really well, especially next to the huge photograph which was presented on the wall next to it.

The colection of works by The New Contempories was also very interesting to see as a viewer and fellow art student. I enjoyed the range of different works and ideasand how each of the artst have expressed and the theme touched.
I particularly enjoyed the 2D animation 'Cut' by Kristian de la Riva, and found myself watching the piece a number of times. The simpleline drawings in black and white worked really well together and I found the piece abserloutly hilarious, I couldn't stop laughing but at times cringing. This piece stood out to me from all the others and I think it's definitely an interesting way to explore 'touched'.

Sachiko Abe 'Cut Papers'
http://www.afoundation.org.uk/liverpool/details.php?id=57

Anitti Laitinen 'Walk the line'
http://www.afoundation.org.uk/liverpool/details.php?id=56

Kristian de la Riva 'Cut'
http://apartment-project.blogspot.com/2009/12/kristian-de-la-riva-on-his-work.html

Symbolism

I came about using symbolism as a way of being suggestive with my images and text, and one of the words I have used alot in my development is 'Vicious Cycle' and so instead of the typical rectangular basis of previous works, I created them as a circle and rings of images and text.

'Vicious Cycle' carved out

A ring of the black and white photographs with the word 'CONTROL' repeated around the edge in black transfer lettering.

Two rings of my black and white photographs linked, representing connection.
Along with 'Vicious Cycle' repeated in transfer lettering around the edge of the first ring and 'FEAR' repeated in pencil stencilling around the second ring.

The text 'Vicious Cycle' in this study is created using the black and white photographs

Editing

I edited my photographs in a word document, focusing on the negative of the image. I like the effect created in these studies and find it links with my previous ideas with the body pressing as they kind of look like body prints themselves.

White transfer text applied at the bottom of the study 'CONTROL',  I find the addition of the one word suggests what the works about without being obvious...making the viewer think I suppose.

Small pencil stencilled text applied to the corner of each image.

Wednesday 29th September (Part 2)

Binary Cell- Never Records

Resembling a functional record store, I found this installation really interesting. I love how it brings people together, sharing music and ideas whilst exploring what is real and what is fictional. I instantly felt comfortable in the space and talking to the creaters, they definitely made us feel welcome.

http://feelinglistless.blogspot.com/2010/10/liverpool-biennial-2010-stefan.html

Wednesday 29th September

Liverpool Biennial Touched
Seel Street visit

Overall I found this particular exhibition quite strange. The space alone didn't appear as an 'ordinary' gallery space which was interesting and the order and feel of the layout was un-usual, but I liked that, I liked that I was a little unaware of my surroundings and the different works that were presented.
I became aware that none of the works were typically traditional (i.e. paintings, drawings, photography), but more so installation, vidio and sound based works which I am not very familiar with. Although after the visit I feel I can relate more so to this type of work. I enjoyed most of the pieces, they all worked really well as an exhibition together and the balance in the rooms were just right...it wasn't overwhelming.
I enjoyed the experience because it was different, and I am loving the visits every week as I feel as though I am becoming more aware of art and the different organisations around us. Although because the building was ridiculously cold, it kind of ruined my experience as it made me want to leave to get some were warmer.

Most of the works presented in the space interested me in different ways but the one piece in particular that impacted on me the most was the vidio Installation by Jani Ruscica 'Beatbox'. This piece was the last I saw and instantly raised my spirits, making me smile without being aware, I found myself tapping and moving to the sound, beats and music in the installation, making me want to dance.
Interperating and Imitating the sounds of their surroundings through beatbox and dance, I think it's a great contrast with the nature and cultural context. I love how the subject of hip hop and beatbox, something so different and seperate to art, incorporated with vidio can work so well, depicting the environment of urban metropolis.
At one point through watching the vidio, I almost forgot were I was, I became fixated on the dance and the different sounds made...It all linked together really well in my opinion.
I wouldn't say this piece has influenced my work at the minute, although it has given me an insight on vidio works and how well sound can be incorporated.

Another piece I found really interesting was the video installation by Clemencia Echeverri 'Voz'. Sitting in the room in which the vidio was shown, I instantly felt a little uncomfortable and strange. The very slow movement of the clips (which at first I was unsure wether this was the case or if it was my eyes diseaving me) and the range of sounds incorporated that exist in prisons was a great contrast, the speed of the movement is what made the work so interesting. I felt myself going into a transe almost , staring at the same image and listening to the different sounds, trying to guess what each sound was. I liked that I was unaware, eliminating the sense of identity, and focusing more on the sounds that were incorporated.
I enjoyed how the piece made me feel, unaware of my surroundings and just simply listening. The flowing of the clips was interesting, showing me the range of techniques that can be used in vidio installation.

Control

I began experimenting with a selection of the photographs, being suggestive instead of obvious, working mostly in black and white representing negativity; and so I decided on working small as I didn't want the images to be seen as clearly and then using text and other elements to cover up the images almost...representing control.

Black biro stencilled text

Pencil stencilled text

Carved out and pencil stencilled text

Black and 'skin toned' thread applied using a sewing machine on different settings

Lines of black thread applied in repeated lines using a sewing machine

Repetition of pencil handwritten words

Pencil stencilled text alongside the covering of splashes of white emulsion and the carving of the word 'LIES'

This time using the original coloured photographs I again covered the images using splashes of white emulsion

Realisation

As I am relying significantly on myself and my own personal issues on this subject, I decided on moving away from using the found images and took a step further into my own problems....taking segragated photographs of areas of my own body...the realisation of my body definitely had a positive impact on my work.