ARTIST STATEMENT

Working title

Revelation

Aim of the project

The original intention was to extend semester 1, fabrication and construction's exploration into claritas and the human form. Conceptually this work is exploring the foundation of the christian, jewish and muslim faith, and its relevance.

Focus on the titanic battle between good and evil for the souls of humanity.

This was explored through the creation of a set of figures are displayed in the configuration of a game board. These figures were 3d printed using glow in the dark filament.

The intention was to create a set of figures of two types, one praying man and one crying man. The intention with the human form itself was to  to reduce the form down to its basic components. I am interested in the generalities not the particularities of the individual to create that connection to the self.

This work is intended to be installed in the white room at QCA on a small, low plinth in the configuration of a game that is 'in play'.

The key to this installation is not the figures themselves but the installation.

consideration for the installation and recording process are:

• the work is discussing the titanic battle for the souls of humanity (within christian, islamic and judism context)
• the 'game' is in play
• the board is not needed, as a discussion to our perception of this game, we are unable to see the board
• the game is not chess or checkers, the rules of this game is unknown to the viewer. We can project a set of rules such as the aformentioned games but they may not apply.
• in recording a low camera angle which puts the viewer in the action as opposed to being a spectator, in presentation of the installation it is displayed from a low height, to put the installation into 'perspective'.

Theoretical Framework

What is the issue you are addressing in the work? What was the motivation for doing the work?

The work is an essoteric discussion on the foundation of judism, islam and christianity, which keeping in mind that these faiths make up over 50% of the worlds population (Adherents.com ) makes this a relevant contemporary issue. This discussion focuses on the titanic battle for our soul. This verison serves to discuss from an analytical point of view, acting as a reminder that , as a christian, we are involved in this game every day. That we cannot see the board in play and our role with in it. We could be any of these pieces.

Studio Methodology

How did you create the work and was process important in its creation and why?

The intention was two create two figures, this was achieved through the physical creation, scanning and digital manipulation of the praying man figure. The second figure , the crying man, was created purely through the digital manipulation of the first.

The figures were printed with ABS luminescent filament.

For these prints a layer height of 0.2 was used. This greatly reduces print time (almost 50% less) and gave the forms a textured, almost shimmery surface, which supports my conceptual focus of the soul and claritas.

The process of using 3d printing relates back to scripture , 'made in his image' (Genisis 1:27), this is particularly important in regards to the praying man. With the original form being Molded from air drying clay which relates to Isaiah 64:8.

The crying man was digitally manipulated which relates back to the original sin, knowledge.

Context

Compare and contrast your work with  two  other practitioners in the field who have similar aims to yours and support your conceptual ideas.

In my research two artists were integral to the resolved work Amanda Parer and Alberto Giacometti.

Amanda Parer challenges the notion of scale through her enchanting pieces that explore the environment and the role of human beings in it. And tries to communicate this by using light and dark, humour and drama. Her usage of glowing figures has been emulated within my own work but myuse of scale explores our disconnection to the environment and the connection between the viewer and artwork.

The other key artistic influence was Alberto Giacometti's Walking man, the stylised male figure, with no individualised aspects, conveys the human condition. I chose retain some detail of the human form but removed all identifyable facial features and minimised the details of the hand. This process was a step in the direction to abstract the human form to a minimum of information to convey a 'humaness'. This process of abstraction has been furthered for my studio major.

Conclusion

How is your work performing against your aims and theoretical framework?

Do you have any evidence for this?

I feel that the use use of luminescent filament was successful in exploring the concept of claritas, tho i feel that for future projects the possiblility of increasing the intensity of the light will strengthen the aesthetic presence of the pieces. Conceptually the work is distanced and didactical in approach, which is a technique that I intend minimise in my practice now that it has been explored.   

To extend on this project in the future my intention is to upscale the idea of the gameboard with a shift of conceptual focus to the participants place within this game. The figures will be replaced with the participants and the gameboard will become visible