project proposal 22-1-2012
TRANSCRIPT
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Existence: Individualism orMechanism?Exploring the notion of how individuality exists within a system.
Kay Johns MA Digital Arts Online (Visual Arts)University of the Arts London, Camberwell.
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Aims
My primary aims for this project are to create a video/audio installation that expresses
and questions the transformation of individuality within the conglomerate. I intend to explore
the notion of how individuality exists within a system, along with questioning the notion of
individualism/mechanism in my work (this may change depending on the perspective). Since
this topic is quite complex I can only really hope to explore aspects of this vast subject. I
aspire to convey these ideas by experimentation with pattern transformations and randomness
by exploring natural generative elements as a method for the foundation of my studio
practise.
Secondary Aims: To research Chaos Theory, and explore a collection of repetitive,
random, and generative processes within both the natural and electronic realms.
Objectives
To obtain a clearer understanding of the natural world.
To gain knowledge of theories and ideologies that may contribute to random
pattern transformations.
Acquire information from artists that use either natural generative elements, or
computer generative elements in their work.
Explore and create experiments using different methods in this area.
Project video onto naturally generative/ kinetic sculptural forms.
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Historical Context
Over the years my work has developed from making dynamic sculptures into creating
multimedia installations, by exploring kinetics, sound and digital video. The historical
context of my work can be found in a combination of art practices from Kinetic Art, Anti-
Form Movement/Process Art, Video Art and Sound Art. In the past I have been intrigued by
the Kinetic ready-mades of Marcel Duchamp. The Anti-Form movement and artworks by
Robert Morris titled Scatter, Richard Serras Splatter, and the Subway Drawings by William
Anastasi as they all have a dynamic quality and an element of chance. I am also fascinated by
Video Art and the works of Nam June Paik, along with the experimental generated Sound Art
by John Cage.
Contemporary Context
The contemporary artists and artworks that I originally started researching for my both
my contextual research and
research paper were, Philip
Galenter, Joseph Nechvatal and
Shardcore. At first the most
relevant contemporary artwork
that related to my question was an
installation by Brian Eno called
77 Million Paintings. (See fig 1)
Fig 1. Brian Eno: 77 Million Paintings. Fabrica, Brighton, 2010.
http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/new+media/art77594
http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/new+media/art77594http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/new+media/art77594http://www.culture24.org.uk/art/new+media/art77594 -
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This is a generative artwork that reflects notions of individuality and transformation within a
collective.
Since my studio practise has entered another phase, where I have been recording people's
breathing sounds and collecting breathe of the same people by storing in balloons. I recently
started researching artist's that use either breathe, breathing sounds, or balloons in their work.
I have been looking at ArtistKimsooja. She has used her own breathing sounds in aninstallation titled: To Breath - A Mirror Woman. Also an artist that used both breathe and
balloons in his work is Piero Manzoni's sculpture titled: Artist'sBreathe, though not
contemporary, but relevant. He used his own breathe to blow up a balloon and then attach this
to a wooden block. While the balloon has since deflated, which probably happened when he
was alive. I found this quite sad since he is no longer alive now, but it is also very effective.
Theoretical Context
The key words that reflect my project are Natural Generative/kinetic Elements,
Interconnectivity and Individuality.The theories and ideologies I will be using to explore my
question/artwork can be linked to these keywords. I have listed my main theoretical areas of
study below:
Dynamic Systems: Generative Art Processes/Natural Generative Elements.
Scientific Theory: Chaos Theory.
Popular Culture: Utopian/Dystopian Future films and books.
Philosophy: Existentialism, Atheism.
Theologies: Buddhism, Judaism and Christianity.
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Methodology
My methodology for this project will be a combination of the following:
Primary Research/Contextual: So far I have contacted Generative Artist's
Philip Galenter, Joseph Nectval, and Shardcore. I have interviewed these
artist's in connection with both my studio practise and my research paper. I
also have looked at specific artworks by practitioners such as Brian Eno,
Kimsoja, and Piero Manzoni. Along with continuing exploring artist's that
have used either breathe, breathing, or balloons in their work. I will also carry
on visiting exhibitions, galleries and museums that relate to my project.
Qualitative and Quantitative Research:
During unit two I will send a video link of my artwork to 20 of my peers to
view. Next I will ask ten people only, to make direct comments about the
video. Once I have received these comments back I will then send out a
multiply choice questionnaire in the likert style to all twenty people to
complete.
Visual Research: Taking photographs/video clips and drawing.
Studio Practice: To explore methods and practices relating to generative
elements and processes. Here is a list of my intentions. I will also keep a
record of my experiments on my blog:
Create rules similar to tradition board games and apply them to my artwork.
Experiment with partial rule based systems.
Research Chaos theory, and film generative elements of nature.
Make experimental video's of natural generative elements (fire, waves,
clouds).
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Experiment with editing software.
Learn how to use Processing.
Record breathing sounds and collect breath to be contained inside balloons.
Experiment projecting video through naturally generative/kinetic sculptural
forms.
Theoretical/Subject Research: To research Dynamic Systems: Generative
Art Processes and Chaos Theory. Popular Culture: Dystopian Future films and
books. Philosophy: Existentialism, Atheism. Theologies: Buddhism, Judaism
and Christianity.
Reflective research: This will be an ongoing random process throughout, but
there will be key periods when reflection will be more prominent. For instance
at the end of Unit One, I will reflect on all the relevant information gathered to
curate my blog for the assessment. While in unit two I will also need to reflect
on the information gathered from myQualitative and Quantitative Research,
and include this along with all the other relevant information to write my
reflective paper. This would contain information gathered from all the research
sections, along with reflection on blog entries, from feedback of tutorials and
group critiques to create my artwork for the final project. Then my next key
period of reflection would be after my final exhibition. During the exhibition I
would leave a comment book that will also contribute to the knowledge and
feedback gained from the exhibition.
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Outcomes
Upon updating this, I am now coming up to the Unit One assessment. Since my work has led
me in this direction, I now know that I would like to create a digital video/audio installation
where video is projected through naturally generative/kinetic hanging sculptural forms
(approx a collection of 3ft clear balloons, containing smaller balloons inside). The audio will
be of people's breathing sounds played randomly, and the air inside the balloons will contain
the breathe from the people breathing. I still need to do lots of experimenting, but ideally I
would like the smaller balloons inside the bigger balloons to all be connected using either
white or clear thread, though this may not be possible. At this point I'm not sure of the exact
outcome as the experiments will lead the work.
The space required will be the approximately: 3.5 metres squared. However from previous
experience while setting up my BA Degree Show I realised that space can be limiting, and I
may not be able to obtain my chosen amount of space. If this is the case I will need to know
how much space I would have to work with beforehand so I can experiment within that
space. Ideally I would like this area to be built with walls around and a doorway to enter that
is also big enough for wheel chair access, though this may not be possible. I envision the
installation to have an immersive quality where only one or two people would enter at a time.
Risk Assessment
I will need to specify that my installation will only be suitable for either one or two people
entering at one time. I will do this either on a separate notice or on my personal statement so
people can read before entering. This will ensure that overcrowding does not occur and that
people can exit easily in case of an emergency. The naturally generative/kinetic sculptural
installation will be hanging from the ceiling. Im not sure at this point where the speakers
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will need to be placed, but both computer and projector will be out of the way so not to cause
distraction from the artwork. I will need to see where the nearest plug sockets are and take
into account the possible use of extension leads. For any cables running along the wall or
floor to computer and projector I will use a combination of either cable clips or floor cable
covers for both neatness and safety. All cables will need to be tested by an electrician for
health and safety purposes prior to the exhibition.
Work Plan
I have split my work plan into a combination of colour coded sections. These topics
are the major stages of my work plan. The details of each section can be found in my
methodology that I previously mentioned.
Visual Research
Subject Research
Studio Practice
Contextual/Primary Research
Reflective Research
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2011
2012
My plan is to research and complete all the areas mentioned in a constructive manner. While
I have highlighted a combination of the research topics for the same duration this does not
mean that I will constantly be researching them all every day, but what it does mean is that I
will switch back and forth for each topic during this time frame until each section is
completed. At this stage I do not know when all the course deadlines are so having a flexible
timetable that I can change and restructure is also important to achieve these goals.
January February March April May June July August September October November December
January February March April May June July August September October November December
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Bibliography
Books:
Austin, H. James (1999) Zen & the Brain. Massachusetts. MIT Press.
Casey, R., & Fry, B. (2010) Getting started with processing. Sebastopol. OReilly Media Inc.
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Pearson, M. (2010) Generative Art, MEAP Edition, Manning Publications.
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Gamer, (2009) Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor, UK, Lakeshore Productions, 95mins.
Kurt Vonneguts Harrison Bergeron (1995) Bruce Pittman, USA. Atlantis films Ltd.,
99mins.
Kurt Vonneguts Harrison Bergeron 2081 (2009) Chandler Tuttle, USA, Moving Picture
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Leonardo. Vol. 40, Issue 2, pp.123-128.
Margaret A. Boden & Ernest A. Edmonds (2009): What is generative art?, Digital
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Websites & Internet Sources
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High Shoulder Productions (2006) Will Wright & Brian Eno Playing With Time [Internet]
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December 2010].
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kimsooja (2006) http://www.kimsooja.com/projects/Crystal_Palace_2006.html [Assessed
22nd January 2012].
Manzoni, P. (2003) http://www.pieromanzoni.org/EN/index_en.htm [ Assessed 14th January2012]
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November 2010].
http://www.fabrica.it/workshops/sterling_videos.htmlhttp://www.sfmoma.org/media/features/viola/index.htmlhttp://www.sfmoma.org/media/features/viola/index.htmlhttp://www.fabrica.it/workshops/sterling_videos.html