Stock Take

Last week we had another short project - allowing us to create a piece of work based on any of the ideas we have used so far this term. I wanted to explore developing my Articulation in Space project, which we completed the first week of college. This is where we were all given a space to work in and as I had one of the largest, I wanted to make a shared, interactive piece. I constructed a map installation using giant rolls of felt, representing a open, accessible world, where everyone is equal; although we are on different co-ordinates, we are all part of the same world.

So last week, I created 3 tiny (high in contrast to my 4x3m map) ping-pong ball sized globes, each with different regions of the world on. I painted the so called 'first world' on one, 'second world' on another and 'third world' on the other. I did this, not because I support this classification system, but because I disagree with it. I wanted to produce something to make people visualise what they are saying. It is not only wrong with an ethical mindset, but in literal terms, it is also incorrect. We are not 3 separate worlds. We are all part of one world, and until we treat it that way, this categorising will continue to exist.

I believe that if everyone worked towards treating the rest of the world with an equal level of respect, there will substantial benefits, and not only for those in poorer environments. I think there needs to be a complete shift in globalization. Instead of societies being driven by capitalism and consumerism, we could use our economies to help countries who have not yet reached a crucial point in development. Under no standards should we convert other cultures into our currently over-developed lifestyle, but bringing them up to a level where overall health, happiness, safety and education is improved, would be a nice priority.

I have learnt that the first, second and third world concept, came about after World War II when capitalist countries were given the title '1st world', communist regions '2nd world' and everywhere else (which included areas of great poverty) was referred to as the '3rd world'. I know that these days, a lot of us have used these terms to talk about different countries, but I want to raise the point that we should not be categorized into different ranks, and that working towards the dismissal of these will be better for everybody.

Powerful stereotypes have developed in which we assume a 'first world' country has the best standards and every 'third world' country is struggling . In actual fact, their are countries included in the 'third world' bracket which are doing very well - India and Brazil being two, and there are huge flaws in America (major '1st world' contributor) that seem quite hidden from peoples attention - their shocking health insurance denials for example.
I don't mean to get so deep with such a small project, but I wanted to represent the classifications by separate, recognisable but unfamiliar globes.

I then experimented with making art that represented the merging together of the worlds - something I understand seems impossible, but with extensive amounts of time, effort and co-operation, I don't think it is out of reach.

References:
The Spirit Level: Why equality is better for everyone, Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, 2009
Aid and Other Dirty Business, Giles Bolton, 2007
http://www.globalissues.org/issue/235/consumption-and-consumerism

Video clips

A Skate Foundation - skating for children with autism

 

A BBC video of effective art therapy helping veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Art Therapy - PTSD

Shoes

As well as jumping barefoot into dog poop, I've had to remove five pieces of glass from myself now. One was major! I think I have to wear shoes whilst in this city.

Connan, Pippa and I

Autism photography

Yay! I had my first meet with a mother and son in West Hoe Park at the weekend, where I took lots of photos of them. He was 3 years old, non-verbal and loved watching the leaves blow in the wind. I had the best day since I've been in Plymouth. It's strange how just an hour or so of hanging out with a wonderful kid with autism can make me feel better about living here.
Today I sent her a CD of about 200 photos of them. She has already seen half of them on facebook and loves them all. She's so appreciative and has been recommending me. I hope to make lots of other children and parents happy through this. I'm so excited.


(won't post photos here for confidential reasons)

Some visual aids I've made to provide structure

Thinking through drawing

We have finished our drawing project now. We presented a few items (and some more) in small groups yesterday. One of our tasks during the last 3 weeks was to go to the Civic Centre with a large piece of paper folded into 8 different rectangles and draw 8 different things that caught our eye. I prefer trees to building so I seemed to naturally focus on things outside of the building... reflections in the water, leaves blown into the corners, light coming through the tree branches etc. We then had to go back to the studio and develop one of them. (picture below)

 

We also got to experiment with silk screen printing. I worked with Sarah to come up with this image of two cardinals. We chose cardinals because their meaning is to renew vitality in life, add colour and return joy and balance to mind, body and spirit. On the back of our shirt we wrote a Joanna Newsom lyric
"That night, black airplanes flew over the sea"

We also got to try lino printing, where, of course, I drew a tree.

Another activity as part of this project was a performance art workshop. I learnt about different artist who use themselves, models or members of the public in their art. We had to come up with some kind of drawing/diagram/plan for a piece of performance art using an everyday object. Seeing as I had a window, I wanted to concentrate on autism awareness. I made a picture schedule of clear steps of how to brush your teeth. I presented it with a piece of writing that simply said 'some people with autism need this amount of structure' and a big diagram of a sink.... In reality, if I was putting this piece in a gallery it would have been a real sink with a toothbrush and toothpaste, and the directions beside it. I wanted to play with the fact that I don't think people in a gallery would actually use the toothbrush as it is communal, in a public space and part of an art exhibit which usually means you can't touch it. I wanted people to realise that something like brushing your teeth which a lot of us do without any conscious thought at all, some of us have serious struggles with it. Some individuals with autism can be pick up a toothbrush and not relate to it until they are shown what to do. Providing visual structure can mean that they learn to complete this task independently.

I want to take this further and create an art exhibit that not only promotes awareness but helps people with autism enjoy art galleries. I want to create a visual system of visiting an art gallery, with clear steps and a definite end, including the duration of the visit so that people who require a lot of structure can access these places without heightened anxiety. I would make it as an art project also, so that members of the public can also pick up this visual schedule and use it to make their way around the gallery.


Erwin Wurm - Performance Artist

Drawing in translation

This project has been going on the last 3 weeks. We have experimented with life drawing, observational drawing, abstract drawing, composition, screen printing and have more to come. I enjoyed our session of life drawing, however it was so challenging! We had 5 second poses and had to get the body and weight distrubution accurate in that tiny amount of time. It was real fun and made me speed up my drawing, which can't be a bad thing!