About My Work

This term, I have been fascinated with the notion of age. Exploring the ambiguity that comes with the use of different methods and material to create objects and capture images. All my work has been made using modern materials, but because of the methods and procedures I have used, they have a timeless aspect to them, creating modern artifacts using longstanding processes. Last term i looked at artists such as Michael Landy and his work Breakdown (Feb 2001), I’ve continued to explore this concept of consumerism, but I’ve instead shifted my focus onto admiring and celebrating processes which involve a human element in every aspect and how each piece I make is completely unique. This term I’ve shifted my focus therefore to artists such as Anish Kupoor, whose reflective works (while not entirely handmade) are for every visitor unique, because of the reflections his work changes and manipulates. I wanted to utalise this notion of exceptionality within my work.

I did this through creating firstly ceramic items, which I began to make ‘perfectly’ but I later found that the imperfections were often the most beautiful parts. I utalised this by leaving my work more up to chance with a raku firing, and manipulating the surface randomly. I looked at artist Chris Hawkins to create metallic aspects within my glazing work. And then also I used film photography to capture moments in time of youth and older generations, comparing the difference in energy which each photo evoked. I took this a step further by casting my face and body as a more sculptural way of capturing time. I looked at the photography Vivian Maier whose captures similar aspects of society.

Having explored the British Museum for Ancient Relics, I found that fine metals had the most presence and history behind them. Researching the designer Tom Dixon, I found that copper was a very soft tactile metal, which could be easily manipulated. I decided to create a copper sculpture to the best of my ability but any human errors or imperfections I would celebrate not hide or reject. I used Jeff Koon’s as inspiration for the weightless, floating feel I want the piece to have. Both Koon’s, and Kapoor’s works are reflective both physically, but also encourage society to reflect on themselves, so I decided to have my sculpture with a polished finish. This makes an interesting contrast to my rusted spheres, but also I like the viewer to be able to see there distorted self within the sculpture to allow them to take time to reflect on what the object is and how it was made. I also have put the piece in the center of all my work, so that its all can be seen in the reflection of the piece, show that how through processes and imperfections, all my work is connected.

I would of liked to exhibit my copper sculpture on a plinth – as if an ancient artifact, and have the rest of my work in glass cases. In the future I’m interested in adapting the size of my work to a larger scale, and continuing to use and manipulate metal, which I will document using the photographic processes I’ve learnt this term. Through doing this, I want to inspired others to embrace and observe the human interaction with objects whether that’s small flaws or a hand made quality and celebrate the individuality that come with these.