November 2015
While doing Mod-Roc casting of my body, I started thinking of how to display it. I was thinking of doing an instillation using a full bandaged cast of me led on a stainless steel table, then have either a male mannequin or cast of one as the surgeon, not sure yet if I will clothe the mannequin in scrubs or leave his perfection on show. The piece would look like a doctors surgery with cupboards and tools like kidney dishes and scalpels. Obviously this will be an on going process, I'll be improving and adapting the work until I am happy with the results.
The piece will be of me because of my struggles with myself and body issues, the bandage cast, tools and room is to resemble me having plastic surgery because I am imperfect; the male mannequin shows perfection and the male dominance over female beauty. The viewers will be the four wall, which is an imaginary wall that the observers of the piece see through.
I've been looking and pricing these ideas up and somethings are just not feasible because of price, such as a steel table, thus I am in the middle of changing things to make it more achievable.
Collage of idea using found images
January 2016
In January I resurrected an idea I had messed about with previously within my art, which was people's flaws in jars. I ended up showcasing these in an exhibitions for Uni. I may also want to explore this idea again.
February 2016
After a crit we had with students and teachers talking about my work, it got me thinking. Someone mentioned that they like my work in fragments, rather than a whole, thus my mind started working on how I could display my work that way for the final exhibition. I started imagining my work in different positions, such as hanging, I could maybe create like a slaughter house rail with meat hooks holding up flawed body parts; showing the reality of society, that we are all just a piece of meat. Maybe even a conveyor belt similar to a toy factor or food line, which people could interact with, by placing the body parts on and moving them a long the line with a cog mechanism to a bin or just a pile of useless body parts at the end.
March 2016
I've been experimenting with the ideas I had in February of displaying my pieces. I have tried hanging them and think it looks very effective, the clinical white colours with Sharpe silver hooks gives it a sinister edge. Although I want to try more visual ideas with this piece, maybe add red dripping blood with a puddle on the floor using such materials as paint, fake blood or fabric.
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Hanging
With the help of my dad I then continued with experimenting with ideas and built a prototype of a conveyor belt. This is just for idea purposes, see how it looks and how to make one; I will also use it for testing the conveyor belt to bin idea. before or if I decided to build or buy a proper conveyor in the future. As you could build a bigger one out of different materials, such as, a paste table with brackets on to hold the rollers etc.. Or have the objects/body parts made of different things, maybe made more fragile so they will break or smash as they hit the bin.
Conveyor belt prototype
Conveyor belt with bin
April 2016
After experimenting with different ideas lately, I am drawn back to the Flaws in jars, I don't feel like I have fully explored this idea and I like the way it showcases my work and how it presents them as a piece. I would like to experiment with lighting and displaying the piece, see what works best; I will also have to collect more flaws of people. Although I will continue experimenting with my other ideas, this seems like the more feasible option for a final piece.
April/May 2016
I have had another idea for collecting peoples flaws, or should I say two more. The first idea was to have a letter box were people/viewers can write down their flaws on medical cards and post them in the letter box, this will be handy for future research for me. The other was to take close up photographs of people's flaws, then have the photographs displayed on a board for all to see. The reasoning or idea behind these is to see how people react to having a flaw on show or giving information that will be concealed in a box, people may not be as willing to have a picture of their flaw taken, as it starts to make it more personal and people may get self conscious.
For my final piece I have decided to have three sections and in each bay have a different form of collecting or displaying flaws. In bay one will be a lit glass cabinet and flaws in jars, bay two will hold a letter box with a plinth/table below it, with medical type cards and pens on it. Finally the third will host the collage of peoples flaws, that I will take during the exhibition. I think this will be the best way to interact with the viewer and get a reaction, as people will be showing or telling their most intimate faults and this is not easy at times.
Sketch/diagram ideas
May 2016
I have decided to display the flaw photographs on a black vintage styled cork frame, it will make a good contrast to the white bay. I will be using a traditional method of framing but not conventional pictures that are associated with that type of frame, which is the effect I want because I would like the flaws to be shown off. Although I will be contradicting myself by having imperfect body parts and modern armature photographs, this will demonstrate that people can have different perspectives when things are visually appealing eg.. framed well. Personally I think this is the best way to display the flaws and draw attention to the piece.
The frame and a few pictures collect so far
I have installed my letter box and plinth but had to change the idea slightly, I realized I have not taken people's heights into consideration. So instead of having the letter box above my plinth, the box will be on the front of it, making the posting hole easy access for all. Although without the letter box above, it leaves a big white area of sectioning board. I had a thought about covering it with posters I made myself associated with medical/dentist waiting rooms or magazines. I did try this idea out and talked to a few tutors about it but we came to the decision that it might effect the piece and influence the viewer, plus the white pureness of the piece looks effective.
Posters
Letter Box piece
