It's currently a mad, mad, mad world.
Isolation, social distance, panic buying and worldwide cancellations and restrictions...
However, the show must go on. Last Friday we as a group (Process & Materiality) were due to curate and put up our show. We are a group of twenty so it has taken some organising. Fortunately, I think due to the size of the group, people have pitched in and offered their help in a variety of ways. Because of the size of group we have just got on with things. We have had several meetings about how we wanted to handle the exhibition and had created a floor plan (by Brad) deciding who was going where based on their individual requirement whether it be power, light, wall space, etc. We are also putting together a Powerpoint presentation, this has been divided between 6 of us to contribute, create and present. We have also filmed and photographed a collaborative piece (Catherine's idea) where we all contribute a piece of material. I have filmed it on a GoPro and will edit that together and add it to this blog. Zara has photographed us creating the collaborative piece and has edited a set of images. I have created posters for use as a group exhibition statement and adapted to a single flyer for use on social media and noticeboards, as well as developing graphics to continue the theme. Beatrix has been setting up accounts on social media including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages for us to contribute and develop. Well that was before all the madness hit and we had to create a virtual exhibition.
Group Exhibition Statement
Social Media Flyer
P&M Graphic (Powerpoint graphic, if required)
My piece and statement
I have been developing my piece over the last few weeks as part of the Soft Sculpture Workshop. I have been documenting this on this blog, in particular: (https://carldurban.wixsite.com/website/post/week-21-more-soft-sculpture & https://carldurban.wixsite.com/website/post/week-22-soft-sculpture-taking-shape).
Original display arrangement.
I found a nice white wall at home and dummied up an exhibition space. I could even hang things away from the wall to create directional light and shadows. I had already had a play with things on PS4 in St George's to see how it could look when displayed. I originally intended to hang the elements as individual pieces but after reviewing and playing with them I felt it worked better when they were intertwined and connected.
My piece is constructed with a collection of tights and other stretchy material made into tubes of various lengths (7 in total). The tubes contain short strips of wire as armatures that create a spiky disfiguration of the tights. These are then hung from a pre-made bracket to allow the tubes to hang slightly away from the wall to create shadows and to enable them to hang free. The tubes are then entangled and combined to defamiliarise the material origins even further. Ideally these are then directionally lit to enable shadows to form on the wall behind.
Risk Assessment Details.
Bracket to hang to be pre-made. On hanging a step ladder will be required. Plus assistant to hold ladder. Drill and screwdriver for attaching bracket. Suitable care required. Once hung no issues. Item to hang just away from wall. No obstruction. When dismantled step ladder and assistant required again.
Detail.
The complete piece hung in a white space.
Detail.
Shadow.
For the purpose of the exhibition, which was to be held in the white cube space of St George's, I replicated the environment to see how it would look, especially hung away from the wall and directionally lit. This does create some very intriguing details and close crops as well as a variety of shadows mimicking the spikiness of the sculpture. On discussion and reflection of how these images look I also intend to take it out of this environment and see how it could look against a different backdrop or location. Hanging from trees? Draped over stones? On the beach? In water? Half buried and emerging from earth or sand? Plenty to explore.
Individual Presentation Text
Having originally thought that I would find it hard to chose between painting, sculpture, printing and hybrid it has become increasingly evident that 3D is becoming my thing... This sin't to say that I will shun the other disciplines and indeed there should be no boundaries and cross-over will happen as required. This is why I chose Process & Materiality, these words define the way I am exploring 3D, working with a different material, seeing what it will do and not do - 'material talkback'. Sometimes I see it as doodling with my hands, just seeing what will happen.
When I was looking to think of a name for my piece I looked at several words, their meaning and the etymology. I was looking at 'twisted', 'snaking' and 'serpent', then I found Convoluted. One of roots of this word in Greek is eluein"to roll round, wind, enwrap." I felt this suited the piece well but was also ambiguous enough to give other readings.
When I originally started to look at the materials used (tights and wire), I was conscious I wanted to defamiliarise the material, which is why I created them longer and took just the leg elements and then extended them.
With regarding the display of the finished piece I tried several ways. Initially I was going to just hang them as strips of different material, different lengths and colours. However when I looked to curate them I found they twisted, wrapped and entwined together in an interesting way. The idea of beginning and end was starting to disappear. I have photographed as if in the sterile space of the white cube, as that is where it was going to be exhibited but I have since thought about the possibility of taking the arrangement away from this environment and looking at where else it could be installed and photographed. The combination of the man-made in nature does open up a variety of options.
I deliberately tried not to take a lead in the group and to see what ideas would come forward, this wasn't easy as I have worked for myself for so long that I tend to know how I would like to do things. However this doesn't allow for other ideas and different points of view. There has been a pleasing amount of contribution and involvement especially considering that we are a group of twenty.
Collaborative Film
A short video that captures an idea suggested by one of our group (Catherine) that we create a collaborative piece of work. After discussion we felt it would be good for each of us to select an element or elements of material used in the creation of our piece and combine them all together. A collection of the materials used individually together as one piece.
Fortunately we not only photographed it but I also filmed it on a GoPro. The intention was to exhibit the piece on a plinth and then show this film alongside the jar containing all the items. With everything that has happened we at least have a record of the event.
Filling the jar.
Group Presentation (Powerpoint)
As a group we split up the responsibilities of various elements regarding the exhibition from its very early beginnings until completion, including creating it as a virtual exhibition. I personally put together the slide for Poster And Branding Creation. Olivia Mays put the whole Powerpoint Presentation that can be seen on the virtual exhibition blogs. I have put the pages here:
Organisation, planning, group contact
We arranged several group meetings to organise the exhibition. During the first meeting, we created a WhatsApp group chat and started pitching ideas about the presentation. Being the largest group to exhibit, we wanted to represent the variety of different practices fairly. We also decided to mount and film a collaborative film that represented our different practices. Some of us had not decided on what work we wanted to exhibit, and some of us were not present for the meeting, therefore, we collectively decided to defer the task of choosing exhibition space for the next meeting.
During the second meeting, we delegated project spaces. We printed out a plan of the project space and we marked the exhibition space we wanted to reserve. It was easier to delegate the spaces in person and at this time we had a better idea of what we wanted to exhibit and whether we needed sockets, extra space for plinths/sculptures, or an optimal lighting condition.
During the third meet-up, we filmed a collaborative group piece. The COVID-19 virus had escalated into a pandemic and had depleted the number of people showing up to the meetings. We posted updates on WhatsApp regularly to compensate for this.
Space planning and curation
As a group we each discussed the work we wanted to present and the size it would take up in the exhibition space, taking any specific requirements into account such as power access, lighting and floorspace.
This enabled us to prioritise those requirements, then divide up the rest of the spaces equally, with each person getting at approximately 2m width of wall space.
A space was left opposite the stairway entrance for the exhibition title, blurb and our group piece.
The map (shown) was then put together as a working plan, which could be edited as we progressed through. This plan, although spatially fine, would most likely change as work was brought on site, as it may not make a coherent exhibition when put together.
Each participant was to provide their own hanging or presentation method (e.g. plinths, shelving) which they wanted for their work.
Each 2D piece would be hung at an eye level standard of 158cm (excluding any work with specific requirements) and sculptural work would be placed with enough access routes around each piece to provide full viewing and access to studio spaces beyond.
Poster and branding creation
Initial idea
After discussing with the group it was agreed that the title of the exhibition was the key to what we as a group of artists were all working to. A further title would be unnecessary.
Poster Creation
The origins and definitions of ‘Process’ and ‘Materiality’ were explored to use to reinforce the common theme. A typographic style was created. Mono was preferred as with a large group it was felt this complimented everyone’s work.
Exhibition Poster
For the actual exhibition it was felt that x3 posters were required to display the theme.
One to describe ‘Process’, one to highlight and name the group of artists and one to describe ‘Materiality’.
Social Media Poster
A simpler version was required for social media use.
This was created by combining typographically the words ‘Process & Materiality’ along with the details of where and when the exhibition would be taking place in the same style as the Exhibition Poster. The words were combined and the ‘&’ used as a joining graphic.
A brief exhibition synopsis was added with details of where and when it was to have been held.
Further branding
The combined graphic of ‘Process & Materiality’ was then adapted for use on social media platforms and to be used on the PowerPoint slides.
This created continuity across all forms of communication.
A smaller graphic was also created in the same style with just ‘P&M’ to be used as an abbreviation should it be required.
Demi-Jar
“Art is an infinitely precious thing, a warming and refreshing drink which re-establishes stomach and spirit in the natural equilibrium of the ideal.” – (Baudelaire, 1846)
Available at:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/charles-baudelaire (Accessed:17 March 2020).
Using this quote and the title of our exhibition as inspiration, we made a collaborative piece of art in a Demi-jar.
Using our old materials that we felt related to our practice, we filled the jar, and filmed and photographed the process.
(Video earlier in this blog piece).
Obstacles
Group size
Twenty students signed up for Process & Materiality. Although this is a large group, we overcame this by setting up a WhatsApp group as our main platform to connect, comment and coordinate activities, which became our main source of communication in light of our exhibition moving online.
Inclusivity
Participants who were unable to attend initial meetings, could follow discussions and happenings via WhatsApp. The highlights of the meetings were posted to the group, so that everyone was updated and could provide input. Once the planning moved online, we continued with our WhatsApp updates. Everyone has been able to follow and comment on proceedings at any time.
Covid-19 Pandemic
The worldwide outbreak of the Coronavirus resulted in the largest shutdown of modern-day existence. As the country and the university were shutting down, a virtual exhibition space was created by tutors, where we could upload our group PowerPoint presentation and photos of our individual artwork with text.
Physical to Virtual Exhibition
The sudden change and new format of a physical exhibition to a virtual one, has meant that we cannot curate our themed exhibition in a brick-and -mortar space and we lose the sense of our work shown in juxtaposition to one another, and with regard to the overall exhibition theme. In lieu of a physical presence, we have put detailed information in our individual presentations to give dimensions and placement of our work to represent how our work would appear in its originally planned setting.