As part of the Award Specific Unit (ASU), the penultimate unit of my Masters in Fine Art we are looking at not only how to exhibit our work but also the whole experience of work and the interaction between the art and the reader, how every decision about the display, positioning and method used can totally transform the comprehension of the work. We discussed how we will be taking our work forward and how we may wish to show it. This all seems to be coming along very fast and at the present time I have no idea what I am going to be showing, yet we are discussing the various WIPs next week. I am going to have to review my current work and discuss my approach. Part of the seminar was spent looking at other examples of shows that varied between ways that the work may be displayed but also the immersive experience for the viewer and how important that is almost completing the work or if not completing it compliments and closes the association between the artist and the viewer.
I have visited many exhibitions that have varied wildly from the simple viewing work at eye level or in vitrines as in the museum experience to exhibitions that you are actively encouraged to interact with the work, to play with the work and indeed by doing so the work actually comes to life and can have multiple readings depending on the involvement by the person interacting. In the first year of my BA at Norwich University of the Arts I was part of a group that exhibited at the Old Show Factory in a show called 'Play With Me II'. our piece was very much an interactive one with 'drawing tools' available for participants to create and add to a large piece of work. In fact our work was very much the creation of the tools.
More can be found here: https://carldurban.wixsite.com/website/post/play-with-me-ii-collaboration
As two small groups we experimented with a very small piece of 'art', an origami boat and an origami fortune teller. We could put each item where we wanted and were to observe and discuss the interaction by the other group and any bystanders. As a group it was decided to place our item in the doorway leading from the library. This positioning caused an obstruction and it was also ignored, or missed and then kicked by mistake. I suggested making a sign for the piece of art saying 'Do not play with the art' as the origami fortune teller just wants to be handled and indeed that's what the first person did when they picked it up, it demands a response. I did suggest the sign as a provocation because it would direct you to the piece, although I was also being playful in questioning the art and letting the viewer define what is the art.
The other group placed their origami boat in the sink in the library accessible toilet sink. AS a boat it wanted to float but by putting it in the sink rendered the sink unusable. They also used an toilet roll to direct you to the piece from outside the door. It did cause a slight kerfuffle when someone wanted to use the bathroom but the positioning of the item gave it far more significance being in a place that would hold water and therefore the 'boat' could potentially float.
When it comes to showing our yet to be created work different options were discussed and are starting to be investigated. There are various spaces available within the university, which although are good to use they are reminiscent of the white cube and don't always allow for play. However, it would be good to see what is available and how much we could exploit the space. The other space is the Old Shoe Factory, as that offers the option of a disused factory space, something that is far more expansive, offers completely new opportunities and potential to play with how we may wish to direct any viewers and their interaction. The other space we are looking to use is a Doll's House. It is more for experimentation and documentation of work and offers a unique space to show either miniature work or proposals in the form of maquettes. We may even try several themes, it is definitely something to play with. It currently sits in the MA base room and is there to use as we wish.
