#wsafoundation

[ultracatspyjamas]

Craving the Great Escape

*WARNING* The content of this blog entry is somewhat graphic, if you or easily upset or offended, do not read it. I suppose you could call this my end notes to the semester, not to say I won’t blog some more because I know I will, but this is sort of my summary of Semester 2, both personal and academically speaking. This is very personal to me, but I feel I need to put it out there. If anything at all is achieved from this, I hope that it helps somebody else. 

The Semester started out alright, I was quietly confident following my results from Semester 1. But things changed. My workload changed. My personal life changed. My mind itself did indeed change. I was slipping away from myself. It wasn’t so much that I could feel it, more as though I could see it happening as though I was somebody else, watching someone detach themselves from their physical body. I had seen and felt this before many times, although many years ago. Then the dread hit me. Dreading that I was slipping backwards, dreading that my work would fall behind, dreading crowds, dreading mirrors, until I got to the point that i couldn’t drag myself out of bed anymore, never mind leave the house to get myself to uni. I could not cope. I couldn’t cope with my own thoughts or feelings, I certainly couldn’t cope with other people’s opinions on them. I’d lost control. I realised there was only one thing left that was in my control, that depression and anxiety hadn’t already taken from me. That was my life.

At the start of March, I walked in front of a bus. It was intentional. The bus stopped with my toes under it, my nose almost touching the windscreen. It stopped just in time; though at the time i felt it had stopped too soon. I felt nothing. By this point I could think of nothing other than how I was going to escape this world, escape my thoughts and feelings. I didn’t want to think, it had become far too painful to feel. The moment I began to allow myself to feel anything the anxiety would kick in. Crippling chest pains, feeling as though I couldn’t breathe, at times convincing myself that I was having a heart attack and that this was it. At times I didn’t care for this feeling either. I was on a downward spiral.

In the early hours of the 17th March, St Patrick’s day, I took 43 Ibuprofen, 2 Naproxen and 4 sleeping tablets. I knew this wouldn’t kill me. But I also knew it would lull my pain; I’d have a gap in time where I couldn’t think or feel anything. I went in an ambulance, I woke up in hospital alone. I felt at the time that I’d always been alone. I cried so hard that I couldn’t breathe. I was told that I would have a home treatment team visiting me daily to give me new medication. At this point I was on 20mg of Citalapram, it was useless. 4 days later on the 21st of March, I gathered what I needed and I went for a walk along the canal near my house. A couple who lived near by found me. By this point I had taken around 40 maximum strength Aspirin, 25 400mg Ibuprofen, 12 500mg Naproxen, 8 Metazapine and 8 Tramadol. They walked me home. I remember wanting a cigarette. I lay down. The next thing I remember was being woken up by a paramedic, by complete fluke it was the same paramedic that had seen me 4 days previous, he remembered everything about me. When I got to hospital I passed out. I don’t know how much time passed, but I remember the relief of havving slept with no dreams and no feelings or thoughts. I got up to go to the toilet and realised I had an IV in my arm, I looked up to see what it was, just saline. When I got up I was sick. I have never been as sick as I was that night. I went back to sleep. I woke up on a ward to a doctor trying to take my blood, she did so every half an hour, I didn’t know why, I didn’t care. Eventually I asked. The aspirin had thinned my blood so much that i was constantly being pumped with saline and having my bloods checked, it was a fight against time. I was told if they couldn’t get my blood level right that both my liver and kidneys could be permanently damaged. 

The next day a crisis team came to see me in hospital. They were nice enough but I didn’t feel like talking. I wanted to go home. I pulled the cannula out of my arm and blood went everywhere. I got dressed and tried to leave. Then I was told if I was to leave now, I’d be arrested and section at Hallam Street. I just wanted to go home. Another night passed, they eventually let me go home. Home treatment were visiting me at home again. By this point I was on 20mg citalapram - an antidepressant, 100mg quetiapine - an antipsychotic and 10mg diazepam - typically prescribed for anxiety. 

I scared myself. I’d done damage. But part of me still wanted to hurt. I cut my arm with a cut throat razor, I needed stitches but I wasn’t going back to hospital. In effect, I stuck my arm back together and hoped for the best. It worked. Since then, so have my prescription drugs. Every day is still a struggle, but I am starting to have good days again. I have completed almost all of my uni work. I have seen friends. I go out more. I have even been out alone. All of these things seem very small and irrelevant, but they are vital parts of my recovery. I have scheduled upcoming appointments with a psychologist, I am reading self help online and in books. My point is, I am getting there. Every day I feel a little bit more myself. But also, the one thing that I thought was making me buckle was the stress of uni, but it turns out that at the other end of the tunnel, having uni work to focus on has saved me. This is the 3rd time in my life that art has saved my life. I will always be lost, but as long as i have art close by as a familiar face, I know I can get through this just like I got through it before, and I’m sure I’ll have to get through it again at some point in the future.

[luislima2]

TEXT 3D WORK

"IMPACT OF POLLUTION"

First of all, I chose the serra's verb "to cut", to create a small stories of the impact of pollution.

The serra's Verb List is lists the infinitives of 84 verbs and 24 possible contexts-of-gravity, of entropy, of nature, etc., in four columns of script.

This list is used to teach us a variety of skills as well as creat. The 3 D models represent the verb by creating a body part or body movement.

Secondly,  in the four works that I did, by use and include: newspapers, polystyrene plate images, photography, acrylic paints of mixed and colors like blue, red, black, yellow and green:

1-in the first image- I did collage images in the background based on nature, figures, people, and I wrote a small texts based on pollution, as independent object "hand 3D", it looks colorful but the cut of the hand give it a real emotion of feelings between the real message of pollution and the human behavior.

2- In the second image, it represents the reflection the impact of pollution with the image of a woman.

3-In the third image, I just painted using cold colors and I the small texts to give a message “ save life and the world”.

4- In the fourth image, I used collage images to create small messages that can solve the problem of pollution and to communicate how we can save the world and the environment.

The serra´s verb it is also definitely something that can be used to communicate and tell  a lot of stories.

Finally, all my task works here represents the impact of human behavior through with the world's pollution with a 3 D images as a way of drawing attention from the audience to the problems of pollution.

[lorenvisentin-blog]

Barbara Kruger uses a combination of black-and-white photographs and captions or phrases (using the colours white and red) over the top in a blocked out format. The contrast between the monochromatic background photography and the bold red boxes of text make both the image / images and the caption standout. In the text, she will either use pronouns or personal pronouns to allow the viewer to build more of a connection with the piece and for the message she is trying to convey to relay over with effect. Typically Kruger will use the text in her art to express cultural issues and topics including: feminism, stereotypes and identity. I took inspiration from Barbara Kruger’s piece “I am young and curious”, as it reminded me of the limitations that many woman have and will face at some point in their lives of being underestimated and put into specific boxes, not being allowed to be “curious”. This made me start thinking about the differences that society enforces between men and women. I wanted to focus on a limitation that is given to girls from birth, as unfortunately I believe that as soon as our gender is revealed, society begins to view us in a slightly different way. I came across the idea of the “pay gap”. Many people don’t believe that the gender pay gap is still around, however it very much is. In 1997 the UK pay gap between men and women was 27.5% and in 2016 it went down to 18.1%. Meaning that the average female born baby is likely to be paid (around) 18.1% less than her male co-workers. For my poster inspired by Barbara Kruger I collaged different photographs of young girls that I found in local newspapers. I tried to represent females of different: ages, social class and ability (and tried to use children of different races but the media seems to only publicise Caucasian children so that was a lot harder, but that’s a different issue for another day). I censored out the eyes of each female child to represent the fact that we seem to feel the need to shelter our girls and not show them the truth. Lastly I then digitally changed my poster so that it would look more like Barbara’s work.

[skarahskarah]

This is a case study poster about the work of fine artist Anj Smith.

[wolvobab]

Mario Testino Exhibition, Lima

Finally got the chance to go to the gallery of the fashion and art photographer, Mario Testino.

After an hour getting lost in the city, having to ask for directions and not being able to speak a word of Spanish (luckily when I mentioned the photographer’s name, they knew where I was trying to get to) I reached the elusive building. On the outside it’s surprisingly modest yet very pretty. I guess Testino didn’t want to ruin the landscape of his hometown. But once inside, with its huge glass doors and grey walls, you really start to feel the atmosphere build up, and when you see the work, you understand why.

Although it looks like something you see all the time in magazines etc, I’m reminded how unique his work was in the early 90’s. The images displayed in the gallery are huge and you can see just how powerful they were in colour and clarity. The fashion world stood and paid attention as he offered something no one else could at the time.

In the next room, there’s a huge collection of celebrities he’s photographed over the years. You can tell how his notoriety has had them falling over themselves to work with him, looking closely at them, you can see why...he does a talent for making the look stunning.

The installation room is Testino talking about his work. You are surrounded by walls of moving images and while you are seated in the middle, he takes you through his history of how he came to where he is now.

In the next part of the gallery you can see how he is starting to pull away from the glamorous world of celebrity and fashion. You can tell he’s trying to make his work his own again rather than catering for the needs of the rich and famous. His ethnic background is being expressed through the different cultures he has wanted to work with, as well as the colourful textiles.

It is only when you go to the top floor of the gallery, that you see where he has really come into his own.

This is his Alta Moda collection. They are portraits of a Peruvian community in Ccatcca, Cusco, in their carnival costume. I don’t know exactly why he chose not to showcase this work internationally, as it is his best work yet. The passion and love for his country really shines through. Perhaps it’s to respect the local people who agreed to pose for him, or the fact that just wants keep his prized pieces in his own little gallery for safe keeping. Whatever the reason, snapshots of this work doesn’t do it justice, it really needs to seen to be believed.

[wsafoundation-blog]

Welcome, Foundation Class of 2018!

#WSAfoundation

This is your new blogging base. Create an account, customise it, make yourselves comfortable. 

Here, you will be responding to, reflecting on, and journalling your weekly tasks and lectures, as well as evaluating your independent research. This blog will act as a personal archive of your work and ideas, demonstrate the range and depth of your research, and evidence your attendance and engagement on the module.

Please note, that for this to work, your URL will be live, and we will all be ‘following’ one another, providing support and feedback where necessary. While the writing in this blog might not always be academic in language, you should bare in mind the public nature of your blog before hitting that ‘post’ button.

Images, videos, music, gifs, and humour are all welcome here - please use your blog how blogs are intended to be used:

If you agree with your peer, show your support with a ‘like’

Encourage discussion through reblogs and responses

Challenge one another

Ask questions 

Make sure to tag every one of your posts #WSAfoundation

Have fun

In this blog, our emphasis is on your reflection, and often this language is your natural voice - your stream of consciousness. However, this is flexible. You may want to write in bullet points, you may want to write poetry, you may want to list a series of keywords. Maybe you want to dabble with all those options? Our advice is to find a style which fits you. 

Remember: This module demands that you undertake several short one week projects or tasks. It is important that you keep up to date. This is not a module you can complete the night before assessment and pass. We will be assessing your contribution to the tasks and coursework on a weekly basis. 

[william-mistouflet-blog]

Tuesday - 31/10/17 - Abstract Art, Kandinsky

On Tuesday we had a lecture on Abstract Art and Julia introduced us to Kandinsky which most of us knew about. We analysed his work by trying to decipher what we could see in his paintings to understand what they were about. We also had a look his book called Sounds (1913) which contains woodcut prints, poems and typography. We also learned that it was believed that Kandinsky had synaesthesia which is the individual is able to join objects such as letters, shapes, numbers or people's names with a sensory perception such as smell, color or flavour, which perceived as if by one or more additional senses such as sight. He also combined music with painting. He recalls hearing a strange hissing noise when mixing colours in his paintbox as a child.

After the lecture we were then asked to make our type of abstract art based our selfs, starting by drawing different lines or forms using charcoal and graphite. For this I produced a range of lines, circles and crosshatch in different sizes I based this mostly of I did in the past and what Kandinsky mostly included in is works. We were then asked to collect texture, I used the radiator and the wall in the corridor for this. I started off by going by putting less pressure at the start and then applied more pressure to get a different outcomes. We then cut them out to make a collage or if you wanted to a mask. For the first collage I made a range of shapes by cutting out different sized circles and triangle and also fold paper in a diamond shape and also ripped paper. I first tried different types of combinations be deciding on the final outcome. I felt like this worked well as the different types of shapes I made seem to join up at some point also combining the two different piece of work well as the first one was light and delicate and the other was rough and combined together make an interesting piece of work. For the second collage I did the same but added colour by using inks. I used my brush to splat the ink so it spreads in parts of the collage and also make rings by using their lids as when opened contained a lot of ink. I used the fingerprint as the ink got on my fingers when I opened them and the first time it happened by accident look great so I decided to do more of them.

Back in secondary school in Year 7 we did an exercise on synaesthesia, our art teacher at the time gave us a plain piece of paper and a range of colours to use, she then played different types of music and we then had to draw what we could see or what colours we can associate with the music. After each song we look at each others work we had done we could see that everyone had a different perspective on the music played as we could see that people used different colours and drew different figures and some people only had lines. The music played as generated different emotions which Kandinsky most used as most of his works look very expressive.

I personal like Kandinsky having used him many times in the past for Art and Photography as a source of inspiration. I would mostly look at his Composition series when working, as they contain a lot of detail which makes it interesting to look at and the style is very expressive and also are they are probably my favourite series from Kandinsky. I’ve use is Composition for my Photography A-Level in Six Form looking at Street Photography, I would make stencils using the different types of line and shape and used them for sketchbook work on portraits and buildings. I also created a final piece using image transferring technique which allows to transfer your work on any surface, which I did for MDF. I then use different types of spray paint and used the stencils I’ve made to create a composition. I have also tape to create thick lines in certain ares. The piece I create is one of my Art/Photography teacher’s favourite piece of work I’ve made.

[sheryllindoo-blog]

Bazaart is an amazing app I have been using over the holiday ! For creating tester posters and for Monday/Tuesday session work.

[ourewilliamsstuff-blog]

Here is a Illustrator image playing around with different tools, including the symbol spay, pen and lettering to name a few. I think I prefer Photoshop because I understand the program a little better. Hopefully I will learn this programme as I create my poster.

[luislima2]

MAPPING

The difference between geographical maps and creative maps: geographical or cartography maps are representations of physical space, but road maps I often consider most widely used maps and creative maps or mental maps are a person`s internalized representation of world with physical world as well as inner, psychological state of mind.  

Many artists have used maps to communicate and tell something like social, cutural and political problems. They do maps with using colored pencils and paper, include brainstorm lists of words, ambitions, fears, and character traits as well as geographic places. About my first drawing map: it represents the route that I use for university, some stores I visit, routes I take frequently and other favorite landmarks.

Finally the second drawing map: it represents a creative map inspiring in influence of the social media and the internet in my life mixed with map of the installation of wireless.

[lorenvisentin-blog]

“IDENTITY” Inspired by our photography based session on Monday, I used objects from my house that resemble the word identity 

[skarahskarah]

Infographics

We were asked to make an infographic and link it to identity. These are a few idea sketches for a medical infographic and a poster showing the difference between moths and butterflies.

I decided to carry on with the medical infographic, and link it to my identity by focusing on tachycardia and hypertension, which are conditions I take treatment for. I don’t have much experience with graphic posters so hopefully the layout and text come together well.

[geeholliee]

Objects I’ve found that could be used to spell ‘found’

[itskanelewis-blog1]

Writing about art

I didn't realise how much art was written about until after the talk with Louise Palfreyman, since the talk I have definitely been more aware of art writing and more interested in what my favourite artist say about their own work. 

[itsisobelwest-blog]

How I plan on developing my design further is by making a frame for the heart and maybe making it stand forward from the frame.

[wolvobab]

Text Works

Looking into the powerful format of textual art, I paid particular attention to the influences of the artist Barbara Kruger. Looking more closely into her work, I had no idea how powerful this format can be. Two pieces of her work really stood out for me, the use of the images of Adolf Hitler and the american flag, as it’s very reflective of whats going on in society and the media today.

With her influences, I decided to create a banner about something I really feel troubled about in society at this moment in time. The growing number of racists incidents in this country at the past few years is becoming extremely unsettling, more so the fact that an increasing number of people think it seems justified because of the ongoing terrorist incidents and the forthcoming Brexit event. What really angers me is the media right now, who seem hell bent on fuelling the fire, instead of helping organisations educate people and making them realise that not everyone from ethnic minorities, or from other countries who have come to live and work, are only here to cause harm, drain the system and take over the country.

While I respect the history that has formed the Union Jack in the 17th Century (England, Scotland & Ireland coming together as one nation) I feel this flag represents so much more now. People from all walks of life have made some powerful contributions to this country over many years. My grandparents, for example, along with thousands came here from Jamaica in the mid 50’s to work for the industries that were failing miserably because they couldn’t get enough workers from there own backyard. That in itself should be respected. For it all to be disregarded due to events since 2001 is quite frankly unacceptable.