Fine Art workshop

This week I took part in a Fine Art workshop, which enabled me to think outside the box, challenge my ideas and perceptions of what Fine Art really is, as well as expand my creative horizons, by creating three sculptures/ installations.  

At the beginning of the workshop, we wrote down what Fine Art means to us, why we chose this workshop, and what we like and dislike about Fine Art, on post-it notes. Afterwards, we were asked to chose a place to stick them somewhere in the room, and then explain why we chose that place. I decided to stick mine on the outside of the window (as shown in I also wanted the people walking past the building to be able to see it. I wanted it to act almost like a sign, for others to read as they walk by.

The next task was to create a couple of compositions using some objects what we found in our bags. I decided to use daily essentials, as well as things necessary for traveling, like tickets, cards, and receipts. I created a few compositions, in order to get a variety. While working on them, I tried to focus on elements, such as balance, symmetry, and the relationships of the different objects. Some of the compositions were more organic, while others more thought out. I made sure to include a variety of organically shaped objects, as well as geometrically shaped objects, for contrast and juxtaposition. Here are some examples of the compositions I created for this task...

The following task was to create a sculpture/ installation, using the provided materials, such as wool, flower pots, wooden sticks, etc, taking into consideration the artists who had been presented to us that morning. As I was finished with my installation with some time leftover, I was able to create two more installations. The photographs are shown below.

This first installation was inspired by a bin that I found. I simply loved the smooth, shiny, reflective surface of it, and knew that I wanted to incorporate it into my work one way or another. To begin with, I cleaned and polished the bin using some wipes and paper, to make it look clean and more reflective. Although this piece is very simplistic, most of the work went into the process of making the bin presentable, so it fits my installation better. In order to make the object look less like a bin, as I wanted to use it for its surface, not for what it was, I decided to flip it around, and put in on an easel to prop it up. 

The reflective surface of the bin made it look a mirror, which sparked an idea for this piece. Instead of making my work be the art, I wanted the audience to be the art. Not only did that make my installation quite unique, but it also made it more interactive. Another element that contributed to the piece being interactive was its positioning. The audience was able o walk around the installation, admiring their own reflection. Due to the bottom of the bin being curved, as well as the reflective surface, an element of distortion was created. The audience was able to see their distorted bodies and faces, making this piece rather comedic. Another one of my intentions when creating this piece, was to play around with the idea of what should be placed on an easel. What is socially acceptable to be placed on an easel? Usually it is a grand painting that sits on an easel, however, this time, it is a mirrored surface, with the viewer/ audience reflected in it. The audience is on the easel. The audience is the artwork. Through doing this, I was able to really question the idea of 'What is art?' and 'What is people's perception of art?', and challenge the my audience's perception of the definition of art.

For this installation, I began by threading some wool through two plastic tubes, then tying it all up to create one conjoined, flowing shape. I would be holding the piece by the poles, walking around and 'drawing' lines with the wool. I was very much fascinated by the way the wool fell onto the floor, creating loops and shapes. The idea behind this piece, was the the wool represents life. The way it falls and forms are the journeys and lessons of life; the ups and downs changes in direction, are represented by the curves in the wool. I wanted to show that you're the one in control of your own life, and the way it goes, through being the one controlling the string. 

I was influenced by a performance piece called 'Rest Energy', by Marina Abramovic. I wanted to take the idea of creating a performance piece, one that the audience could watch live. That way, I was a part of the art.

Lastly, this is a piece that I decided to call 'Gentle Disruption'. I wanted to play around and explore the idea of something being 'out of place'. I also wanted to put the unconventional, manmade material in nature to show disruption. So, I thought, maybe I could take something that's typically meant for indoor use, outdoors. And what could be a more typically indoor material than wallpaper? I was able to take a little bit of the inside, and put it outside, creating a strong, bold statement piece. Its only purpose was to entertain, due to being extremely unconventional.

Through creating this installation, I was able to juxtapose the organic, natural structures, such as trees, leaves and flowers, found in the garden, against the stark, geometric white wallpaper, which is a manmade material/ structure. Wallpaper is something humans use to decorate and to 'make their mark', whereas nature is quite free-flowing and grows on its own. It is not manmade. I chose to use white, not only to create a strong contrast between the plants outside, but also due to the colour's connotations, such as innocence. Wallpaper is quite an innocent material, especially when used for its purpose indoors. However, when used outdoors, it creates a disruption to the  nature and the environment around it. A Gentle Disruption.

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This was definitely one of my favourite weeks of foundation. I really got to be myself and express my ideas the way I wanted to. I would like to take this forward-thinking mindset forward, to the next workshops, and continue to think outside the box, and challenge myself.