tisnonchalant-blog

[tisnonchalant-blog]

Stepping into an enclosed area of stress is the main achieved goal in this project. I think constructing this have also allowed me to express my stressful thoughts about signs and how I came to consider them as symptoms that I developed throughout my course of living in London. Having a box that vibrates stress and having being able to step into it is stress relieving as the second I leave the box, I no longer feel the pressure causing my mind or one’s mind to just maintain thoughts of stressful signs packed in the surroundings with the effect of light beams.

I am represented throughout the display as the black human figure signs casted on the wall that seem somewhat falling and the support of white exclamation mark signs . This has been done intentionally with black expressing the thoughts of having a stressful packed mind that causes me to pull down gravity around me. It is almost as if the stress of signs is getting too heavy where it is just sinking me.

The lights used in this display is where it seals up the deal of just being in a stressful area. Red flashing lights represent the harsh needy energy to follow rules and to be trapped in an area that just represents signs as one is considered a criminal or just an ill casualty of this disease of law abiding. It is almost as you might hear sirens going off and on with a no way out of a psychedelic atmosphere.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

Evaluation

Discovering the theme of signs and portraying it throughout my research and development was very interesting to me as I explored different ways of displaying and conveying my message through my work. The main idea, as previously mentioned in the proposal, about my work is depicting the permanency of what I should be able to call symptoms by now as I believe it has caused some sort of stress illness. Signs do definitely indicate future occurrences and I believe they are just like motifs and metaphors in my everyday life. Having signs around me is irritating. It is exactly like a book of laws that I have to abide by. So, throughout my experimentations and research, I’ve decided to just focus on the idea of portraying signs as symptoms rather than its literal meanings.

As I went through the list of artists that have influenced me, I came to realize that some artists have not completely influenced me the way I wanted, which allowed me to focus on the ones that I feel more appropriate towards my research. I came to conclude that Clet Abraham has influenced my thought contextually, where he also believes that not everyone feels comfortable in obeying everything around them and not thinking twice. Sacredness of law as I believe restrictions are entrapments which lead to developing stress symptoms. Marcus Harvey’s Myra painting have also influenced my thought process where I believe the technique of using infants’ handprints is very bold and straight. This have helped me realize why I chose this media of printing using paint as it shows the permanency of these symptoms that I have casted on wallpaper.

I am also strongly influenced by Camille Walala’s “Walala X Play” display of a maze-like design and Simon Whybrays “Hi Boo I Love You” pink stairwell, as his way of showing the work is bold. It is a great way to communicate with the audience and to portray my thoughts and feelings using an area that encloses the human mind and traps it into a stressful environment. Where one can step into a space where light and signs displayed that play a great role in expressing stress. This idea wasn’t clear when I first thought of my project proposal as I developed it throughout my research and experimentations.

My main intention on the proposal was to use the technique of printmaking using paint and cut sign-shaped cardboards to create a piece portraying signs as symptoms, which successfully happened. After testing things out, I came to decide that I should create an area with a certain vibe for viewers to really communicate with what’s being shown through the final piece. A bold, energy-absorbing, stressful enclosed area for one to experience or at least get a sense of how I feel towards the stress. Other than the sketch paintings of experimenting different approaches of creating portraits or images out of street signs, having the closed area idea is my major achievement where the process of building up something starting from one piece of paper on a wall allowed me to develop it even further and construct my box like structure that portrays stress from signs and lights.

I have somewhat produced what I intended from my proposal, only changes and more key elements focused on this time like the technique and artists who influenced my work. The box like enclosed stressful area was not thought about during my proposal. I developed it during my research process.

I think developing my work is what makes my work because the research I create throughout the process helps me get a clear visual of what I’m doing and spot adjustments or maybe it could just not work at all and should try something else. So experimenting is what makes my work developing as I’ve tested out intended plans which somewhat failed or just couldn’t get the point across. I’ve managed to learn that sometimes the research is what creates the final thought or display. Display is also very important in communicating with viewers as I felt like making my own stress box area would be much more appropriate in the case of portraying my ideas. Whereas my self-portraits created using signs is just not as powerful.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

After constructing the box and experimenting with different positions, I have got to a point where I think the box is complete looking like the one shown in the photo. An opening has been left intentionally for it can only allow one person to fit through or just stand there looking at it, not having anywhere else to look at. One’s mind should be enclosed and trapped within what’s in the box.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

Overview Week 5

Over this week I managed to brainstorm and get an image of what my project is all about including the final piece that is in the process of creation. I have used my display area and experimented with different ways of enclosing an area and creating a stressful atmosphere.

Influenced by Marcus Harvey’s’ Myra painting created using casts of infants and Simon Whybray’s “Hi Boo I Love you” pink stairwells, I used a printing technique and use of space in displaying and exhibiting. Also the idea of signs and the discomfort it causes used to create my stress portraying box piece are bold where I figured one has to step into my enclosed area and experience or just get a vibe of psychedelic and boldness of portraying the stress. It is a way of expressing my thoughts toward signs and how When one steps into the stress it becomes a symptom. All derived from the idea of living in London and being stressed over signs. As I now consider it as a symptom I have living here and being surrounded by this strain.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

As I figured there must be light in my box in order to make this work and cause extra stress. I purchased these battery charged lights to not have any wires or distractions of electricity. The light sticks could light up in three different powers. There’s light, extra light, then cut flashing red. These light sticks are going to be part of the display as i am experimenting with the different effects it makes or if any distractions maybe like shadows or atmosphere.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

Over the course of studio days, I used the dark black room to experiment with display and it really did draw me a picture of what my plan is in my head so I decided to get on with it. The area I chose is all about stress. A packed inclosed corner in a black room for one to step in and authorize the brain on its own.

I just kept on adding to what has been covering the wall, ceiling to ground. Also then decided to cover my enclosed area compleatly with the wallpaper created including the ceiling and ground. Using the dark corner helped in constructing the box like structure as I used the wall instead of creating my own wall instead. I will complete the creation of this stress portraying box piece by closing it up.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

I have chosen to experiment with the technique and make wallpaper out of street signs. I have painted a couple of sheets of paper using this technique but this time with bigger signs and covered the papers completely. No figures Just abstractly done while expressing my thoughts and letting out all the stress symptoms I absorb toward signs. When it dried off I hung them on the wall to get a sense of what’s happening so far and what adjustments are needed. Influenced by Simon Whybray’s “Hi Boo I Love You,” I felt like I could use the purpose of my display as expressing my thoughts towards street signs and the stress it causes me.

I plan to do more of the wallpaper and create my own space to be displayed in a dark space. To create a box for one to step in and experience the stress it portrays.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

Overview Week 4

After writing the project proposal this week, I came to conclude that I will be using my collection of signs having been influenced by a couple of artists. This project will be created using paint.

I’ve done enough experimentations and research to develop this project. I explored printmaking where I cut out cardboards outlining the shape of some street signs and dipped them in paint to see the different prints and textures I’d get. While experimenting on my sketchbook and having an individual tutorial, I listed a couple of artists that I will definitely reference throughout my work and process. These include Simon Whybray’s pink stairwell, Camille Walala’s “Walala X Play” maze like designs, and Marcus Harvey’s Painting of Myra.

After doing some research about them, I tested some techniques of printmaking. I chose images of me looking somewhat hurt, either mentally or physically, thinking that it would add more to the aspect of symptoms and obeying rules where not doing so could lead to concequences. The images I’ve chosen were painted using the printing technique to support the permanancy of these thoughts and symptoms casted on me and around me. I am presented as a criminal not following rules where the paintings look somewhat like mug shots.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

I have chosen two photos that were harshly taken of myself. Both showing pain. I decided to recreate these images using prints of street signs that I cut using cardboard. I’m creating myself through the signs to convey how I consider them as symptoms when I follow street signs. One of the photos presents me physically hurt from a buggy accident while the other shows signs of emotional and inner pain. These were chosen based on my feelings toward being obliged to follow rules and laws especially ones set out to the world on the streets. Also, these images of me are strong enough to support the idea of symptoms that occur to one living in London. Could be a matter of consequences when not obeying rules or could be emotionally stressed by the significant amount of rules that are set out on the streets for people to follow. Symptoms are shown in the images and symptoms are also recreating the images. Printmaking simply because it is a permanent thought.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

“Myra” by Marcus Harvey (left) is a large painting created using handprints of infants. It is a black and white mugshot of a criminal from a newspaper. The use of infants hands used to create this painting is the most powerful aspect as it shows children’s purity exposed to the controversy of criminals and killers who are in the mass media, doing so by juxtaposing children’s innocence. 

I find that this is a great influence to my work as I’m also using printing techniques to create a piece that reflects my thoughts. Using prints of signs I created will allow me to try and create my own image as compared to Myra. Where I am considered to be a criminal when not abiding the laws of London’s streets. The signs will be used to create a some sort of mugshot of me where it conveys the symptoms I have as to living in London and not following streets signs. It’s like I caught a disease where the effects of my symptoms are shown through me and visually created me as a piece or a portrait. 

It is a completely different idea as compared to my previous thought of having some sort of enclosed area where one can step in and experience the stress of my own symptoms. The plan is to either show it physically on wallpaper, surrounding one’s body to apply a certain thought to my message, or conveying my message through a piece that creates me as a person. Where one can see a portrait of me created by the “disease” I caught from London’s streets (which is the prints of street signs). I could also be presenting both ideas where viewers could relate to either.

Marcus Harvey, Myra, 1995, Available from https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/feb/21/marcus-harvey-margaret-thatcher

[tisnonchalant-blog]

“Walala X Play” is an installation by Camille Walala displayed at Now Gallery in Greenwich. Influenced by the Italian Memphis movement of design, she is a textile design artist  who works very vibrantly along colorful vivid enclosed areas using walls. Her patterns and and designs are exquisite where she tends to explore every angle as a viewer and as an artist at the same time. She considers a great amount of energy and vibrancy expressed through her work. 

After brainstorming ideas about how to connect with viewers in expressing my feelings towards my project and researching for more influences, I think that the idea of having a space or an area to step in and experience a sort of feeling is strong and bold in my case as I would like to express the stress caused by street signs. My idea of printmaking of street signs previously could be used now as wallpaper. To create a small area to begin with covered in signs implying the sort of closure as in relation to the signs. Like a trap. A feeling of entrapment where I consider street signs are symptoms to one living in London. 

Camille Walala, Walala X Play, 2017, Available from http://camillewalala.com/about

[tisnonchalant-blog]

“Hi Boo, I Love You” by Simon Whybray is a pink stairwell in Frank’s Cafe at Peckham. Whybray is clearly a bold intentionist who is having fun with what he’s painting. People tend to check the place out for the chance to just experience “pink.” No one can really tell that it is art but in fact it looks fun. His intention behind it was to show his fiancé his love towards her, as he believe saying “I love you” is just words and nothing else. Not only show her but also everyone else. It is almost psychadelic in my opinion. Bold and clear in a way where maybe no-one would categorize it as art. 

I chose to reference this artists as I came across him during my research and experimentation of thinking about the different ways I could connect my final show to the viewers. I would like to make my piece bold and straight, at the same time conveying my feelings of stress caused by the street signs. It is also a way of explaining the idea as symptoms I have as to living in London. 

Simon Whybray, 2016, Hi Boo I Love You- Polyester Zine, Available from http://polyesterzine.com/hi-boo-i-love-you/

[tisnonchalant-blog]

After going over my proposal and adding adjustments and thoughts, I decided to experiment with the idea of process and use paint. Testing out the technique of printmaking was very helpful as I now plan that it’s the right technique that will be used for my final piece. It’s almost like I created a new law against my painting where brushes are not allowed when creating this piece. Also this is a contrast to the whole idea of being obliged to follow certain signs and rules. It is a symptom to the human mind. A sign.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

Project Proposal (London’s Street Symptoms)

Walking around London for the past couple of weeks, considering being familiar with the city, it occurred to me that the amount of uniquely used signs put around London streets is a realization for priority. Street signs are everywhere around us to direct and guide us upon taking action. The word symptom normally refers to illnesses, but isn’t that just another synonym for the word sign, where its presence can indicate future occurrences of other things?

Many thoughts occurred when I realized, living in London, I just can’t go a day without looking at a sign and not thinking about how there are many rules and obligations set out to the society. I’ve collected my developing ideas through photographs as I’m interested in capturing the photo in its true form. Another way of portraying technology manipulation, because I think there’s a   contrast of media use during the process and the final production. Street signs are like motifs and metaphors in our everyday lives so my investigation includes photographs of street signs collected around the streets of London. The idea of warnings, ways to go and precautions seems like a book of laws to obey and follow even when one’s not aware. Signs are going to be portrayed as symptoms in my work. I intend to paint my own street symptoms and step away from streets signs’ literal meanings.

In contextual form, I’m mostly inspired by Clet Abraham and presentations of sacredness of law as I believe not everyone feels comfortable in obeying everything out there and not thinking twice about what comes in mind. Restrictions are entrapments.

As for my use of media and process I’m currently influenced by photorealism, specifically looking at Ralph Goings, where most of his paintings are based on photographs depicting American motifs of everyday life. Gerhard Richter is also another painter who influenced me as he also believes in the fact that we as humans are manipulated by technology used in photography. My intentions towards this project is to use paint to portray a visual representation of London’s streets and how its variety of street signs are considered symptoms to all. As materials used in display of collections, I intend to use printmaking out of carved board to print using paint some outlines of street signs as part of my major painting. This idea was derived from the poles used to create street signs and the fact that they’re never taken down for renovations. So using the outlines, I’ll be creating stamps that will depict permanency of such symptoms that came from not thinking twice about warnings, signs, directions or even precautions.

That will be the aim as the most important thing to focus on is the painting aspect of the project where skills are meant to be shown. Time should be used wisely throughout the process of completing this project, as a timetable will be used to record things done, need to be done, or notes added for improvements/comments.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

Overview Week 3

During the course of this week I managed to put together and display my street sign collection and present a brief idea about it. I also came across Clet Abraham, an artist who also works with street signs with a very similar concept to what I have already. I’ve condensed my broad idea and tried to specify my goal and brainstormed some ideas for my project. Street signs are just simple directions given to society to obey upon actions intended. It has become more of a philosophical thought throughout my observations as it occurred to me the importance of such careless apprehension. These inspirations have followed through a series of reseach alongside the media of paint and photography as part of my research process.

[tisnonchalant-blog]

Pinocchio, 2016

The Clash, 2004

La Gogna, 2010

Clet Abraham is an Italian based French artist who doesn’t like to vandalize or ruin street works like many street art but in fact pay respect and tribute by placing stickers on street signs. As what he’s doing is illegal, he just wants to get his point across and turn it into a must have conversation about his work. He doesn’t like to be told or commanded so this is his way of showing his sacredness of law.

I think this is inspiring because I’m also a person who doesn’t like to be obliged to do things but definitely open to discussions and thoughts. I also think that his idea of wanting people to think twice when they’re asked to follow an instruction is very powerful. His idea is so clear that it altered and challenged my way of thinking towards signs. That people are definitely restricted by rules and regulations.

Clet Abraham, 2003-2018, Widewalls. Available from https://www.widewalls.ch/artist/clet-abraham/

[tisnonchalant-blog]

I’ve decided to display my collection on poles as referred to street signs. I wrapped the cardboard poles using different colors to emphasize the consistency old and new. London never takes down poles or street signs where in fact signs are just added on to the collection on the streets since the beginning of time. Whether the pole had been vandalized by paint sprays and scribbles or just kept clean. The sketches hung on them are just paint sketches of some signs that portray different meanings. I’ve also used metal wire to make the whole piece stand together on its own, like a circus or a typical London map. The idea was simply photographs that depict messages, influenced by the amount of different signs I saw around me everyday.