Back in. Straight back in to it.
A university wide brief and 'a collaborative project across campus to get the creative juices going'. By signing up to a group and space you were then tasked to respond how you felt fit with the intention that the final work would be displayed in spaces generally left blank, even though they are used daily whether that be to rest or pass through. This was also a chance to work and collaborate with students who you don't normally, the years were mixed up as well as the disciplines. I wonder how it would have worked if you weren't allowed to work in the space/discipline you normally do? Put some Fine Art students in film or some Fashion students in Graphics. The results could have been even more diverse.
I wasn't sure what I wanted to do or where I wanted to work. Perhaps I played it safe by booking into Guntons basement? I didn't really want to go in and see what came to mind, there wasn't much time and wanted some sort of plan to get things started. I had been thinking about how many people walk through the spaces where the work would be displayed, without leaving a trace. A footprint wouldn't be recorded, a passing unknown. I also wanted to consider not just the daily passing but also the passing of a student through the university over their three, four, five or even six year period. My idea was to record this passing by leaving a space to record a handprint every time you went through, this also meant a physical record but also with it being hands it was something direct from the artist, the most common part of the artist that is used to create. Whether this could have been a long term project and it be recorded in plaster, clay or cement I wasn't sure of the logistics. With the timeframe of this project and to get the idea over I decided on paint. We all love a bit of paint on our hands...
I wanted to put up a poster to give people instructions but keep it really simple. Using my Art Director head I sat down and worked out a simple phrase to sum up my thoughts. By saying 'Mark Your Journey Through NUA' it was ambiguous enough to mean the present and the whole journey.
After creating the piece and getting some people to add their mark we all transferred our work to the designated spaces. We were to use the Duke Street foyer and corridors to the lecture theatre. This seemed a slightly hallowed space but by being reasonably respectful with the hanging it was a wonderful opportunity to display the work.
I didn't want to tell people how they should leave their mark by saying it had to be a handprint, no deviation and so clearly there some that played with the concept which is always interesting.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the day was to see how others had interpreted the brief and what they were creating. Some individually and some collaboratively. One of the most memorable moments was a creation by Beatrix who when we were starting out in the morning was very unsure of her idea, she wanted to make some protest signs but without knowing exactly what she wanted to say and to not be too serious. I suggested she wrote down some ideas just as scribbles to see what came out and then take it from there. What came out of there after a few chats was a full blown set of posters and even a march around the block to some very confused public. Brilliant.
A couple of us did a tour round to see what else had been created and it was great to see the diversity and creativity on show. How much of it could be taken forward as a future manifesto I don't know but there was certainly some thought provoking work on show.
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