PE Task 2

I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this project. With an early engaging concept, I believe my research and development was in-depth, and I tried to think about the words ‘data’ and ‘mapping’ in a more abstract way.

From the very beginning I began to identify contextual artists that related to the direction of my work. After my visit to Manchester Art Gallery and the initial drawings that I did, I stumbled across an artist named James Pegg.

James Pegg is inspired by architecture, he draws buildings that people would not give a second glance to, by only using lines. He is also a screen-printing artist, which relates back to my origins project. I feel that my initial drawings were restricting me, and I was unsure how I could develop them further, however once I had gathered visual references of James Pegg’s work, it fuelled my ideas, and I was able to envisage my work as an end product.

Looking back at my original research, I had looked at using light and long exposures to reflect ‘time’. I wanted to somehow combine light into my samples. I began to look at an artist named Astrid Krogh. She uses optic strands to make tapestries that glow and illuminate into a rainbow of colours. She is influenced by natural light, and the shadows cast throughout the day. During one of the group tutorials, and expressing my interest in Astrid Krogh, my tutor advised me of an optic wire website. I ordered three metres of the wire, in varied colours. At present I am still in the stages of designing my samples that will incorporate the wire.

During the mixed media project we were introduced to the laser cutter. After using the ‘data’ verb sheet to manipulate my drawing and designs, the laser cutter was very much suited to my concept. I began to look at artists that used light to create pattern, or projections to engage.

Anila Qyayyum Agha has recently created a series of shadow art cubes named ‘Intersections’. She has created intricately carved wooden cubes that fit together, and hold a light. The result of which projects the most beautiful designs. Anila is greatly inspired and influenced by Islamic sacred patterns. I found this extremely interesting as she was expressing her own researched data in a more abstract way. I think researching Anila and looking through photographs of her gallery pieces, was a turning point in my project, and from that moment I could place my work within a context.

 

I believe that the contextual research helped me develop my drawings into ideas, and ideas into a final concept. I can now envisage my work as a gallery piece. Due to the abstract projections that it produces, it would engage and intrigue an audience. I feel it fits in very well with the brief. Using line drawing techniques and the laser cutting tool, I have produced work that is of an abstract nature, and relates to portraying a period of time, and a journey.

Print room samples

I went into the print room twice this week. I used dying techniques that I had learnt in origins, but I also learnt a new technique called marbling. I think this project has really allowed me to learn new techniques which allows me to experiment in future projects and I will have a broader knowledge of processes to play with. I also visited the fabric store and bought flock and foil papers. I used these materials and my screen to create successful samples. I hope to incorporate these with my clear acrylic laser cutter samples.

I think I have definitely tried to challenge myself more in the print room, and to further my knowledge of the materials available to me.

Projection of laser cutter samples

I took my laser cutter samples to the dark studio and used an over head projector to push light through them, and see the effects on to the adjacent wall. I'm unsure how well it actually worked. It was difficult to imagine the samples in a box room, and projecting on all four walls. I do like the effect, but I will need to sample this idea more. I am booked in to use the laser cutter again, for a three hour session, during which I will be using mirror acrylic, clear acrylic and wood. I am going to use the acrylics for one off pieces that will join to fabrics produced in the print room, and I'm going to create a cube from the wooden faces, which will hopefully work very similarly to Anila Quayyum Agha.

Progression Wall

While studying mixed media, we have been asked to select key pieces of work or research, which reflect the direction of our project. The images are in chronological order. The first one reflects my initial research and thinking. Thinking about the words 'mapping' and 'data', I wanted to reflect a journey I had been through, and decided to base it upon my time at University so far. 

I looked at youth culture, and thought about the friends that I had made at University. I wanted to create samples to reflect this. I also looked at music; with is a common interest in my group of friends, and light; particularly long exposures, as I felt it reflected the concept of time.

The last of my walls, shows the progression that I made, and I think it mirrors my initial research and ideas. The drawings of my friends have been further developed on the laser cutter and in the print room. I have researched contextual artists, concentrating on light projection and LED lighting.

Anila Quayyum Agha

Anila Quayyum Agha is a mixed media artist whom has create's elaborate projection cube. This particular piece is names 'intersections'. The cube is made up of large panels of laser cut wood, and is based upon Islamic patterns found in sacred places of worship. 

This idea of light projection links directly to the work I am doing at the moment. I stumbled across this artist, and I am so happy that I did, as it has given my work much more reference, and I can now picture my ideas and samples in a gallery space. I have thoroughly enjoyed using the laser cutter and I know that I could use it as a tool for my future projects and challenge myself with more complicated designs and structures. 

Laser cutter samples

I used wood in the initial laser cutter sessions, but I am tempted to try using transparent acrylic plastic, as I like the idea of being able to view something through it. I want to try and combine the idea of light, and over exposure, with the faces of my friends.

I am going to use the drawings of my friends and the laser cutter to create new samples, and try and combine different materials. I'm thinking of creating a screen in the print room, and placing it behind my wooden faces. I like the idea of layering up my samples. 

Laser Cutter

I took my designs to the laser cutter today and absolutely fell in love with this machine. I don't know whether it's just the direction that my project has taken but the faces worked particularly well.

I wanted to make something more 3D, so I laser cut numerous wooden samples of the block face, and began to layer up the pieces onto a plain board, which I had engraved the image on, so that the positioning of the pieces was perfect.

I also used imotion on my mobile to show the laser cutting through my image. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, and I'm now thinking of ways that I combine the new techniques that I have learnt with the print room processes.