FIELD | Temptation and Contemplation

As I mentioned last week I wanted to explore the joint between man and nature, allowing for an expressive piece that would show the composition of a human figure but also allow for the exploration into natural foliage modelling; this was more of what I wanted to do instead of thinking of how this could link together with the project, and so I decided to scrap this idea.

I have instead opted to go for a slightly similar approach but look more at how man and the machines in creates operate with one another, how we have become slaves to them over the past decades. There is much more detail I could go into but for now that’s a general overview, and while this is slightly similar to the previous incarnation of my exhibition idea, I feel that this allows me to explore the exhibition space itself and making for a more interactive set of pieces.

CONSTELLATION | Proposal? Proposal.

After talking it out with Alexandros, I’ll be looking at doing my dissertation on the sexualisation of people within advertising, though obviously that is a very broad outlook of what I will actually be doing.

I want to explore the ideas that cultures across the world share with one another, but also differentiate; the first obvious view on this is the difference between South Korea and the UK when it comes to their sexualisation which is almost non-existent in Korea, though this may be due to the outlook of someone from outside the country.

I think this has a lot of depth to it, though I’m not totally sure if this is still the idea that I want to continue with in the long run, so I might look over it this weekend to see if I can explore some different routes

FIELD |Modelling the Figurative

Over two days we learnt the basic of how to begin modelling clay using two different techniques, the 2D style of slabbing to create an image upon a flat surface hat could then be stretched to give the illusion of perspective; the second technique was a more 3D way of working by pinching and joining the clay to create three dimensional bodies that needed to contain the same amount centre of gravity and other physics that also enforce themselves on he human body.

The use of clay creates a feeling of fragility of the piece as well as some sort of strength, similar to that of the human body which can be incredibly sturdy but also weak. The folds and creases within the clay hat appear over the course of making the piece also replicates the surface of skin that we ourselves hold and that wanes as we go throughout our lives.

The different methods used could be used in conjunction with one another (like we did in the second session) to create something that has the human fragility and look, but also feels other-worldly compared to a more realistic model. Techniques such as stretching could also be used to create deformed features in a 3D model to make a perspective look on the work when viewed at a certain angle.

Artists:

Rudy Autio | Akio Takamori | Natasha Mayo

Final Pieces

            

The End of One – Reflection of the Year

1. Describe your working method, how do you approach a project?

When approaching a project I create a large volume of idea techniques to help me flesh out what could become of the project, to define what is within the brief specifications and what is not, after which I go on to create ideas based on these mind maps and lists. When I have narrowed down the ideas to around two or three, I start work on each of them simultaneously to see how they will develop before reaching a final decision on which one I want to go on with to be my final piece.

2. How experimental have you been this year in subject – where have you felt most ‘out of your comfort zone’?

I have pushed myself to be more experimental this year, but have often stayed within the borders of what I know. The workshops I have been a part of have helped me to develop skills within many different fields, and though I stayed within my comfort zone for the majority of the course the final project was where I began to experiment more with woodwork, watercolour and more handmade items in general

3. Where have you used different media and formats effectively and imaginatively in Subject?

When it came to creating the digital book, I was able to create something that I thought was an effective format in which I would have been able to use the animation, that I created in the project following, within the book to make it more unique. While it may of not been the most imaginative, it was the project in which I had used formats well.

4. Which is your most appropriate solution?

I believe the most appropriate solution I have created this year would have to be the specimen posters that I created rather early on in the year. I went back to review these as time went on and we learnt more skills, but it fit the brief near perfectly in my opinion, and I had great fun making and tweaking it as well.

5. Which is the most memorable, interesting idea in your work?

I think the final project for the first year has got to be the most memorable and interesting idea I have come up with thus far. I believe the marriage of graphic design and illustration is one of the most pleasing things to do when working on a project, there is a great feeling after you put effort into drawing and painting something by hand instead of creating digitally. I was able to experiment quite a lot as well and brought about an idea that nailed down some of the aspects of graphic design that I find most fun, as well as talking about the year as a whole.

Mark Making // Expressive Names

When it comes to mark making, i usually come to despair as I usually struggle with the concept and end up doing something i really dislike, but when it comes to type…well you can’t hate type so I can’t hate mark making while creating type – in fact I thoroughly enjoyed myself, though I’m not sure if I was able to achieve what was set out for us as I feel that the marks that I created didn’t correlate very well with the personality traits that I had gathered from my partner Elina.

The visual outcome I was quite pleased with but, as I said, I feel that next time I need to do even more experimentation to achieve the marks that are required to express the personality I am dealing with.

 

Concept

Lessons Learned:

The concept of constellation is to allow you to converse with people from multiple disciplines so that you can generate more ideas; through lectures by staff, you will be taught how to move away from having the same ideas and expanding your methods to create more unique work

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What makes this course special?

• To be able to work with each other, throughout the year you will be sitting next to people in different areas allowing you to generate more ideas; you will also be able to access more members of staff and their ways of teaching
• Quotes
  • The standard of teaching has been really high
  • Learning to research and write essays was fun!
  • Good opportunity to meet students from other disciplines
  • We want to do more writing
  • I really enjoyed the year and I’m so glad I came to CSAD

• We don’t expect you to know anything beforehand
• Introduced to Ideas
• Finding ideas of your own
• Applying them
• Open minded/autonomous students
• We expect you to find information out, i.e. Blackboard and Cardiff Met email

Student Autonomy

At the start of the course we expect you to be similar to a terracotta army, were you are all close-knitted individuals looking towards with same direction with similar ideas, but by the end you will all be more individual and have developed more with your own skills and ideas unique to you.

“The problem with an open mind is that sooner or later people will come along and try to put things in it” – All we want is for you to come along an listen and think about it; you don’t have to like it, it doesn’t have to be the best thing ever, but just come to experience it

• Look at handbook to find dates for constellation

There is a project for constellation that starts today, you will give this in on the last session before the end of the semester

Meet the Staff:

• Maker – Alexandos
• Ceramics – Mahnaz
• Textiles – Morag
• Product Design – Theo
• Illustration – Cath
• Fine Art – Jon
• Graphics – Ashley