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LAUREN REA
Object, Weight, Space, Place Project
Exhibition Piece Experiments: Sharing A Bed With You
This project was inspired by my visit to the Tate Modern and the exhibitions that I saw there. This project considers the idea of growth from the objects and materials collection, using diverse materials. over the last hundred years, artists have worked to challenge the concept that certain materials are unsuitable for art. Some selected artists employ industrial materials, methods and processes whilst others adapt throwaway products of consumer society to new uses.
Flower X-Ray
This piece was created as an experiment inspired by Jiro Takamatsu, 'Oneness of Cedar' 1970, in regards to the media of nature. I was also inspired by Guy Bourdin's incorperation of textures. In order to create this effect, I placed a piece of paper over a light and then a pressed flower over that so that it gave the appearance of an x-ray. This piece, if pursued, could potentially be projected - perhaps through a piece of acetate in reference to an x-ray, conveying ideas of growth
and of mortality with the use of the flickering projector to demonstrate a sense of the fleeting and untouchable.
I feel the symbolism of the white rose, representing Purity and Spirituality, as well as the fact that this is a flower that links to my nan's funeral.
Hair Ball
This piece was inspired by Sheela Gowda's 'Behold' and her incorporation of a rather unusual material: Hair. I interpreted this within the context of my own work, drawing on ideas of beauty, individualism and femininity - collecting hair from all my friends and creating a hairball. In contrast to it's intent of displaying beauty, the piece itself actually became rather ugly, even carnal. This led me to have this work question the conventions of beauty. Potentially, I could make many of these, ranging from a ping pong ball to a football, presented either on the floor or on a plinth as a sculpture.
Growth
Following on from my last two experiments, I combined these two element to create this sculpture using my friends hair and a rose from my nan's funeral. It continues to explore the symbolism of the white rose and the concept of friendship, femininity and individualism of these themes. I wanted to create an almost ethereal aspect to this sculpture, something delicate, which must be preserved an protected. It could be argued that then placing this in a glass undermines this, however, I believe the glass merely adds to the idea of something fragile, something of value that is not eay - if not impossible
- to replace. In its presentation, this piece could work both o n the floor, most preferably in a corner, adding to the sense of the demure, understated modestness. However, it could also be juxtaposed by being placed on a plinth, allowing for a sense of monumentality,
Through experimentation, I have developed this Conceptual sculpture made from an old bed sheet, Glass jar and miscellaneous hair created into a ball. The composition of the sheet also was crucial as it was on the floor, developing a contrast between the relationship of the glass, the ground and the linen. This piece considers female sexuality and questions conventional femininity with the bed sheet that also suggests a sense of intimacy. The hair ball had the intention of displaying beauty, but actually became subverted , becoming something ugly, even carnal. I could have had this on a plinth, but there was an element of disruption, particularly at was composed ruffled on the floor.
Crit Session For Exhibition Piece: Sharing A Bed With You
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As this piece is extremely conceptual, Each of the three elements has a symbolic meaning; without any prior knowledge of the themes, the message could be interpreted in various different ways. Perhaps I could counteract this by by placing an information card explaining my intentions, even if it was key words or highlighting themes.
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This piece is floor based and so could potentially lost or overlooked in a space if not properly composed;it is important that I compose the piece within the works own space, perhaps even being selective of the work it is displayed with.
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The glass was criticized as being the least cohesive element of the work, however, this piece was not only about the conceptual symbolism of the objects, but the contrasting properties also lends to the overall impact of the piece. The large expanse of the linen contrasts the ball of hair, whilst the glass contrasts both of these, having properties as a hard and unmalleable object which creates an interesting visual juxtaposition.
I thoroughly enjoyed being part of this whole experience, particularly in the curation, of creating a body of work with everyone else that is both cohesive and different, however, it was also a stressful experience due to making a piece that worked with the gallery space. Through both tutorials and casual talks with people, I was able to edit and simply the piece - to streamline it, if you will, however, once i gauged the space in which i was limited, my work was not overly effected by the space as by its nature, it can be made bigger or smaller, so there was little to adapt o the jump from studio to gallery. I would like to take this forward and further explore conceptual work, whether it be sculpture, instillation, or even performative...
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