Harewood House

So, on Saturday Megan and I visited Harewood House for research. The scenery and architecture were stunning. Being in such a naturally beautiful environment has influenced our decision to incorporate natural themes into our work. We will be looking into the traces left behind in our psyche by nature and how to change the narrative of objects we find and acquire.

Artist Research - Tim Rollins and Kos

Tim Rollins' work mainly focuses on altering books and passages of narrative literature. I really like the way he works into found and discarded object to give them a new meaning, it's quite relevant to what me and Megan are working on.
Tim Rollins

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, 
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.


Dylan Thomas

Artists Work-Alec Finlay

Alec Finlay's work is something I've always liked as it is quite direct and in touch with its natural beginnings.
 He's also really interested in herbal remedies poetry which just makes me really happy x
Alec Finlay a Jupiter Artland

Artist Research-Susan Hiller

When I saw this at first it reminded me of being small and thinking all medicine was magic-Calpol especially. I like the idea of several delicate items creating and intricate display that feels precious. There was a display like that in the clockwork museum I visited a while back; 

Hiller's work really resonated with me and I find myself wanting to try something similar.
Susan Hiller's Homepage

Her work also reminds me of Alec Finlay's -post to follow.

Artist Research-Zimoun

Some really breathtaking sound sculptures.

A brief synopsis
Zimoun's in-depth website

Collaboration

So, Megan and I have decided to collaborate on our current brief. We will be focusing on echo's left behind by  the existence of people or nature and creating a new narrative surrounding forgotten or overlooked objects to represent this.  We will be experimenting with a number of different media, including glass and metal casting, sound, film and photography. We think we are going to base our research around the grounds of Harewood House.

So, I found this clip of underneath Leeds rail station, looks pretty interesting.
Underground Leeds

Dark Arches Sound

So, after my fantastic experience of the Dark Arches yesterday I went back to record the impressive sounds they produce for our sound workshop. I quite like that I was there for well over two hours and I only say a handful of other people.
Here is the edited clip, I'm actually really happy about it the result. Its sound like a heart beat under water. It feels very personal and engaging.

I rather enjoyed working with sound, it's such a natural and honest thing that we don't even really think about, we just react intuitively. It is gratifying to see your work provoke such a visceral response.

The Dark Arches and Minor Law Breaking

So, today I went to the arches underneath Leeds rail station. The Leeds/ Liverpool canal passes through a section of them and because of this they were once bustling trade centre. Now, however, they are dark, empty and isolated. While they are not abandoned in anyway they have been forgotten by most of Leeds and now are used as parking for those that work by the canal. They are a perfect example of the echo of life that once was, just out of sight of the public and ignored completely.
The first thing that hit me was the overwhelming sound of the canal. it was fantastic.
The second thing that I noticed was the dank air, cold and damp it chills you immediately. I tried to capture this in my photographs but i'm not sure I managed.

Then I visited a construction site on the opposite side of the canal, as the entry gate was not locked in any major way I assumed that the site was safe enough to take photos in. It was not, as the very friendly and helpful site manager with no teeth informed me. 

A New Perspective

So, I've moved on slightly from the clockwork idea as I felt it was quite restricting and clichéd . I've since been looking into spaces- - actually sort of following the brief for once and how they relate to us and our history. How they make us feel and all the other ways they can effect us. I'm going to be looking into unused or abandoned spaces as they have always resonated with me in some way and I find them quite romantic.