Sukey De Verdieping Talk, Amsterdam 2011: Post 1

Republished from the Sukey Blog:

So, my 'world's gone crazy' set of posts might have to wait. I'm in Amsterdam. Dressed as a dinosaur:

This week Sukey has been visiting Amsterdam; a group of us have been invited over in order to give a talk at a regular conference hosted by Trouw Amsterdam called De Verdieping. Trouw (from their website) looks like one of several interesting spaces located around Amsterdam. Located in an old newspaper printing mill, they have a restaurant, club, Venue for cultural discussion and debate, exhibition space, and magazine. Sounds pretty bloody cool!

Amsterdam is a beautiful city on several levels. It's beautifully designed, the bicycle system is integrated into the cities' structure in a way I don't think is even possible in London - rather that being pushed to the kerb and generally ignored (mostly) like they are in London, they have dedicated lanes on almost every road and seem to be seen in a similar light to those driving cars.

By far the most impressive at this point has been the Central Library, and the attitude towards libraries in Amsterdam. If you live in the UK I'm sure you're aware of the terrible things being done to the funding of libraries. I am currently blogging from this most amazing of spaces:

The Openbare Centrale Bibliotheek Amsterdam is the largest public library in Europe, and possibly also the best. It has 10 floors - we have been working on stuff for Sukey for most of the day from floor 5 - it is fully networked, they have public iMacs for visitors, ergonomically designed workspaces from people on their own or in groups, and a full blown, affordable restaurant on the top floor where you can choose from a variety of incredibly tasty and healthy foodstuffs.

Essentially it's about the most productive environment in which I have ever been.

Student fees for university courses used to be non-existent, but now cost €1,713 from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The people are welcoming, friendly and love Londoners. We're having a fantastic time here!

-Gaffen (from the Sukey Suit)


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Pixels!

Just a quick post, this is actually a re-post from my FMP blog, but I was so proud of it I had to show it here:

It's the most complex pixel animation I've made so far.

Pantone and Ferro/Non-Newtonian Fluid

I met up with Gemma Rhead for a little chat post-FMP (for her that is!), which besides being nice to catch up after so much time, was an opportunity to discuss a new project. I'll keep it quiet for the moment but the content of it is something which might not be typically associated with me. What I will let slip is that it quite heavily connected to the Pantone colour matching system.


Aside from that I have also been looking into the applications for both ferrofluid and non-newtonian fluid, two substances with interesting properties. A possible three extra projects are therefore on their way.


FMP proposal MK II and MKIII may well be on their way to my FMP blog some time tomorrow, watch this space.

Dissertation Post Dos

My dissertation has now been written and handed in, however before I release it to the general public I would like to edit the conclusion and final chapter as I was terribly tired when it was written and made some statements that I would like to tailor. I'm also hopefully going to typeset it properly.

However what I will reveal is that the essay title is now 'Art, Design and Culture; An Exploration of Specialisation' The essay looks at what Art and Design actually are, the roles they play in contemporary culture, as well as the role specialisation plays in education and development.

Stay tuned, it should hopefully be up before too long, as well as a re-hash of a foundation project that I am working on entitled 'hardware'

James Geary on the Importance of Metaphors

Metaphors truly are marvellous things.

Sorry, I'm experiencing a bit of a creative drought at the moment, hopefully some new work will be up soon.

Shed

<EDIT>I've had some people ask me whether this is my work. I'd just like to confirm that this is actually my own animation work made for my course's 'Shed: The Movie' project. It's about 24 hours worth of animation and a further day or so's worth of recording, voice acting and adjusting sound levels and what not. It's my first complete full length animation and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so expect to see more. It also fits nicely with my current obsession with analogue process, having minimal computer manipulation.

I hope you enjoy </EDIT>

Matchstick Tragedy from Gaffen on Vimeo.

Round and Round

Inspiration has seemed to be hard to come by at the moment, and I'm having trouble creating truly creative responses to briefs.

The current project that my year group is working in is a short video piece that is based in some way on sheds. As a last ditch effort, with nothing else to do I decided to make this animation;

It was made in about an hour or so without a tripod, so the quality isn't amazing.

New projects coming soon, including hopefully a new website and work I've been doing for six creative

New Audio Piece

If you move your attention over to the music player you'll find a new audio piece; 'Always Enjoyed by the Immaculately Groomed'. It was made for a sound brief for my course. The brief was to make an audio piece from found sounds around London. So here it is, a day in the life of me. Enjoy.

PUB-lication

It's been rather a while since I've posted here, but I'm still beavering away.

Got a new audio piece to upload to, but am having a little problem with the music player I programmed. I'll put a new post up as soon as it's working. I've also got talk of a new band in the mariachi style floating around in collaboration with the talented Louis Village. Stay tuned.

On to the main part of this post:

I am currently part of a group project trying to apply documentary film making techniques to print based media. An interesting idea which we are tweaking right now. Our chosen subject matter was the Grosvenor Pub near Pimlico station. Gathering research mainly involved (for me) sitting around ALL day until close in the pub all week, recording interviews with staff and patrons at various levels of inebriation. I also took my new 35mm SLR out on its first excursion to get some nice pictures.

Here are some of the ones I rather liked:

Run Up to the End

Six days left,

I've been hard at work since the post before last; made the clothes for my puppet which look pretty, pretty good. Have also been thinking about taking pictures of me dressed up (and made up) exactly like it, with ropes attached to my arms and legs. The face is also now finished and painted, which looks quite scary.

This morning I managed to get the house to myself for a few hours, I took advantage of the privacy to make recordings in order to make an ambient soundtrack. This included going back into my dark past and recording me shouting at myself. I'll be mixing a final version of the track later tonight, probably.

Continuing with the work I've done, I made a wallpaper which is looking rather good too.

That's just about all the individual elements I'm going to be using. I've had to streamline my ideas somewhat, as you can see. The gremlin idea was progressing well - I was going to use a spot-welded wire frame to shape the body, and use pappier mache for the head/face, but not only was it going to take too long, it also seemed to clutter the appearance of the installation.

So what is the darn thing going to look like?

Well I do need to draw a plan for my assessment, but I haven't drawn it yet so I'll describe it and the idea behind it.

The installation will take up around about a two metre piece of wall-space. the wall will be papered with my wallpaper (which I'm printing on Mon/Teus hopefully). The desk will be positioned facing this wall, sitting on a piece of scrappy, rubbish carpet. On the desk will be placed an old desk lamp, the puppet (on some sort of stand), and an old radio. If I print my photographs, I might hang them on the wall. The top desk drawer will be filled with doll bits, and the pieces of paper. The bottom drawer will be heavily locked (large padlock, belts, ropes, maybe some chain). In the drawer will be my amp, plugged into a CD player, playing the ambient noise. There will be a chair of some description also at the desk.

The idea behind this installation is that I have built an imaginary character, who lives in the room. This character suffers symptoms of psychosis and schizophrenia. I.E. he sees hallucinations, and hears them too. My puppet-making character attempts to stop these imaginary characters affecting himself too much by making puppets and dolls of them, and locking them away in his desk or around the house. The puppet of himself is him expressing how trapped and controlled he feels by his own voices. Maybe by constructing these lifeless effigies of lifeless characters, he hopes to release them from his own mind - projecting them onto dolls.

Dolls, and toys are the freakiest things when you think about them. Just read Living Dolls by Gaby Wood, to see what I mean.

Anyway, I feel that's enough info for now. I'll add information about the butterfly ball soon too. I need LOTS OF PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED!!!

Good luck with your projects, everyone.

-Matt

PS: got photo's now click for biggie:

1) First images of puppet and clothes
2) Puppet head development (Need to add hair!) and comparison to me first thing in the morn
3) Attempts to camouflage my eyes
4) My £5 radio

Minor Setback

Put out our post boxes today for the Butterfly Ball.

They look like this:
As for my Final Major Project, I have had ideas about how to create the 'goblin' that will be holding the puppet of me. I'm going to use some second hand clothes as a starting point (Some kind of jogging bottoms probably, just for their shape, and a form of cloak for outside appearances). Then I will flesh him out using found objects (card board, those things you put in boots to keep their shape (for the shins), etc). I'm going to take a plaster cast of my own hands for the hands of the goblin. I need to think more about the face.

I had a bit of a crisis of confidence at the end of last week, so work slowed a little, but I believe I'm back on track. The main reason was because I suddenly realised that the wood I was using for my puppet's head was A.) Too small, and B.) Too soft. Basically I had fucked it up. After much wringing of hands, and cries in anguish, I decided not all was lost, and with a little help from a friend (not being the best with clay miself) used some air-drying clay to build up the face again, and I must say it is looking pretty stunning (pictures will come soon).

I got donated some old dolls for my project, which is helpful. I also wrote some blank verse based on demented accounts of my dark past, heavily in biro. I then used a pencil on the sheet below to give the impression of some one stalking, and then proceeded to rip it up, so that it looked more demented. When slicing up one of the dolls, my scalpel slipped, and I cut my left index finger to the bone.

The body of the puppet is more or less completed. There's a nail sticking out of its chest that I have to trim, but all in good time. Along with the dolls I was fortunate enough te receive some clothes, which I could use to base my patterns on for the puppet's clothes. So far I made a pair of red trousers out of felt, which look quite good. However, the fabric doesn't really have a suitable amount of movement in it to be used for a puppet. I might have to re-make them. I have the material for the jacket and shirt, and should be getting started on them soon.

As for the controls, I have begun to think about them, but haven't started making them, hopefully should be finished next week. Will bring my old desk into college soon, which will help. Hopefully will start and finish some suitably dark wallpaper this week too, based on a motif of manikin bits.

Need to buy a radio too, and finish the audio aspect of my installation. Will hopefully take those photographs soon too.

That's about it for now, will upload some photo's soon.

Leftbank Diseased

Ok, well firstly the clothes designer from the last post was Joseph Domingo, who is Spanish, unsurprisingly. I do love the way a sort of morbidity and the theme of death is ingrained in Spanish/Mexican culture. I'd love to go to a Day Of The Dead festival some day...


Anyway, back to this week (passed)

I came to the conclusion eventually that there was FAR too much on my plate with all the ideas I was having for ONE piece, and so decided to focus on the puppet sculpture. The head is taking on a nice shape, but I need something other than a sharp scalpel to give the face the right quality.

The face itself started off being based upon day of the dead 'calvera' art, but I quickly realised that this was more of a gimmick that a meaningful choice of style. So instead I altered it a bit to give it a more Harliquinesque look, with thin lips, and painted, staring eyes. I also gave it a fixed, grotesquely large grin, in order to make the face look more like a mask.

I'm going to dress my puppet in what have become my trademark red skinny jeans, black shoes, a white shirt, and a red and white striped jacket (Oxford punter style). So I'll be looking for suitable materials this week.

I'd also like sound to be a part of my installation, I've already made a twisted version of 'Leftbank 2' by the Noveltones - more commonly known as the gallery theme from Take Heart, or the themetune for the Picture loans advert. I'll hopefully be able to purchase some small speakers, and somehow hide them around the installation playing various sound bytes. I had an idea for a second sound byte too - based on making a recording of me shouting to myself about things I've done that I'm ashamed of in my life.

In terms of the interior itself, I'm going to situate a satchel filled with various items next to the desk, hopefully. I need to make a poster asking for peoples' old dolls/action figures that I can dismember for the desk draw. Also, I'm going to produce some bits and pieces of paper for use in my project. One of these is going to be the result of heavily writing paranoid ramblings on a pad of paper, and then using a pencil on the sheet underneath, produce the impression of a stalking persona.

I have also been doing some doodles to help improve my confidence with physical media, which I might post up here next week.

That's about it for my thoughts on the Final Major Project for now.

The Bee Butterfly Ball project is progressing well too. I'll post more information here soon, as I'm told it's pertinent to what I'm doing for my course.

So long for now.

Gregory Barsimian, Museum of Childhood, The Old Copper Mill and Ideas for FMP

Ok, so I'm not quite as hard at work as I should be, but I don't believe many people are at this stage. I've been visiting galleries for research, one of particular interest for me was the current exhibit at the Kinetica gallery in Spitalfields. It's got all sorts of mechanical art works on display, which are quite fascinating to watch. Here's an example of Gregory Barsimian's work, one of the artists who is displaying there there.

his works are incredible, like seeing a real-life stop frame animation.

In any case, I've now started forming ideas for the project left right and centre as per usual. One of the first ideas to come to me was one of a sculpture - a puppet of me, being manipulated by a sculpture of a rather larger puppet, which has had its strings cut. This is an attempt to express what I imagine it to be like to be subject to bullying from a person that no-one is aware of but myself. in order to give it an unsettling, 'voodoo-esque' quality, I plan to use my own hair for the hair of my puppet.

Another idea was that of obtaining a second hand photo booth, and converting it to 'take a picture of the person's model'. To whit - when a person uses it, there's a bright flash, and you see something other that your face reflected in the glass. I decided that this idea was both a little too difficult to arrange in the time, and to hard to execute without being laughable.

I was inspired by the recent Hauser and Wirth exhibit at the old copper mill 'Absolutely Botiful' to create an interior space, with the appearance of being lived in. I wanted to create the impression of a toy maker's workshop, who's work is an attempt to express his frustration at having a voice/person in his head that no-one else can witness. (Don't worry, this isn't autobiographical - I just find the subject matter fascinating!)

I also visited the museum of childhood in Bethnal Green, and saw some rather disturbing children's toys - no wonder we're so fucked up. On a side note - maybe having more toys makes us less socially aware? I had FAR too many toys, and I'm not exactly the most graceful social butterfly. Toys could, in some way, be seen as a way to avoid talking to or interacting with other people?

Anyway, following that idea, I also wanted to make one of those miniature children's theatre - one of those ones with the cardboard figures on sticks that you wave about from the wings, with scenery that can slide in and out. Need to think more about the content of it though.

Nearly got all my ideas down for now. I also want to take some photographs based on a recent catwalk show - I'll find you a reference photo for my next post. The models all had pieces of gauze over their eyes, which were made up to look like skin. I wanted to hang some pictures of me and friends made up like this on the wall in my installation, possibly representing what my fictitious characters friends (on second thought he probably doesn't have any friends). Also, I could hide a blood pack behind the gause, so I could take a picture of my character 'cutting his eyes open'. Not quite sure of the symbolism there though.

Finally a couple of notes on the display itself. The theatre will sit on a cheap desk, possibly with the sculpture on the other side, or on a second storage unit of some kind. I'll use a grubby piece of old carpet for the floor, and at least one desk draw will be full of dismembered doll/manakin bits. a friend of mine will be creating some disturbing wallpaper for her final piece which, with her permission, I will use some of to decorate the walls of my installation, which will take about 3m square ground space, in a corner preferably. my pictures will be hung on the wall, and I will hide small speakers in certain places to provide atmospheric sound when you get close to an object.

Depending on how it goes with that lot, there may be more stuff to go in there to come.

Lil' Ball and logo

The last few days have left me a little bereft of inspiration. Should be going to Kingsley Hall on Friday though.

Got a gig with SGLA on Sunday at Archway Tavern, free admission and night starts at 7.

Anyway, in my boredom, I made this:
So I have a logo now, even if there's no accompanying project yet...

I also made a miniature butterfly ball a la the Bee(Hive) project:

That's it for now

-Matt

FMP Foundation

I've been working hard in the last month or so in order to impress all the colleges I applied to so that I might be sheltered from the real world under the umbrella of education for a little longer. It appeared to work somehow, as I managed to get a place on the graphics course at Chelsea College of art. Which I think is pretty cool, even if I do say myself.
After that I had to prepare what is called a statement of intent for my final major project - A big project, over a long period, written and set by myself. This is mine; The subject is:

MODELS AND THE MIND Statement of Intent

Progress and Achievement Through Units 1 to 7

The major skill I have learned over my time on foundation is that of conceptualization and formulation of ideas. Although I still need to improve my method of documentation for the development process, the course has helped open my eyes to new ways of producing work. Whereas before I primarily used the computer as my tool for constructing pieces, only a couple of weeks after starting the course I was experimenting with sculpture. I also find that whereas before a lot of my art was produced on a purely superficial, promotional level, I am now exploring the meaning of subjects very important to me in my work.

Pathway Choice

I found it very difficult to choose my pathway; having just broadened my horizons and then constricting them. Coming from a graphical background I found the graphics pathway very tempting due to the defined nature of the project. However the commercial side of graphics concerned me, as I did not want to lose the idea of producing work that embodied some deeper, personal meaning to myself. Finally, I chose graphics as it is a communicative medium and I enjoy this aspect in comparison to the subjective nature of art.

Final Major Project Aims and Realisations

I intend to explore the subject of psychosis in my final project, with special interest focused on the idea of models, a relatively new area of psychological science. The idea of reality, and the question of what is real will feature heavily in the project. The main question, however, is one of psychiatry itself. The psychological model is an idea that contradicts some of the more traditional ones. The concept of models means that a psychologist now has to treat a person’s psychotic experiences as fact, rather than medically treatable symptoms. R.D. Laing took a similar view, and employed radical new treatment techniques at Kingsley Hall, where the doctors lived in house with the patients. This is a place I will most likely visit whilst conducting my research. It is also likely that I will explore the works of Mary Barnes – an ex-inmate and artist. I am remaining intentionally open–minded in regard to the final piece for this project in order to allow a more fluid development of the project. However, I am likely to be experimenting with some sculpture and painting. Mary Barnes’ work mainly comprised finger painting whist attending Kingsley, and the concept of models brings to mind the theme of puppetry, which could be well explored through the medium of sculpture. The main intent of this project is to affectively convey some aspect of the idea of mental models in the context psychiatry and psychosis. The dichotomy between the reality of those perceiving psychosis, and the actual illusory nature of hallucinations brought about by psychosis will be very important, and I think possibly the most affective way to convey this may be through some kind of installation piece, probably including film of some kind.

Evaluation

In order to constantly evaluate my work I will participate in tutorials, group assessments and finally, a self-assessment once my project is complete. I will also document the projects’ evolution from its original premise in some form. Most probably utilizing the blog format. This will ease the process of evaluation.

Chelsea College Visit

I went to West London to check out Chelsea College of Art and laid witness to Geoff-Thomas Shaw, quite an intense personality who left my opinion middling around without a paddle. I also was asked to make a one minute film in ten days for Graphics. And if my computer hadn't crashed beyond most reasonable attempts at repair I would have had it in on time. Bastard technology; as much as I hate the campaign, Mitchell and Webb's Apple adds are starting to sway me.

Aside from that I've been practacing with SGLA as per usual, and more importantly the Bee(Hive) project is starting its initial phase - Posters should be going up around Camberwell soon.