MA Tutorial report 12

Date:     12^th Nov 2011                                         Tutor:  Emma Bulley

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Reflection on outcomes since last tutorial

I had emailed Emma links to theViewergallery project, and discussed how that had gone. More, I was keen to talk about the future possibilities the gallery opens to me, as a platform for all sorts of ideas. The whole tutorial was enjoyable – it feels like a while since I was able to have a proper art talk. I also realise I always hope for tutorials to cover broader and deeper art issues, away from specific details of projects.

Mentioned where such an artist led venture may lead to – Transmission in Edinburgh, employing people, etc. theViewergallery will change shape alot, and hopefully build both exhibitions and more conceptual projects. I can make it up as I go along.

Also discussed how it has turned out I have done less personal work this year due to projects – but this has seemed necessary and right and productive. Next year more personal work I hope.

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Current projected aims and outcomes

My current challenge is to get my concentration back after recent events in my life – getting married and so on. The writings for assessment will get there in time, and I feel I am dragging them hopefully to MA level. However, I do have things to say, and now is the time to get it all together. Recent projects, theViewergallery, and so on, spur further ideas and plans, some new, and some longer held, whose time is now.

Selling plans start now, with small items and cards through theViewergallery. I have many items and prototypes of art contraptions I can get on with, make and sell. It always feels you have to sell big budget and think of dealers and art fairs, but that can be immobilizing – better to get used to selling items.

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Discussion and recommendations

Also discussed a growing theme in my thinking – something which may well be the theme of next year’s essay, and something I increasingly find myself pondering. The current artists who are well known, whose work has entered the public consciousness, who make a good living through their practice, and who are offered many different and varied opportunities, tend to be those artists who most consciously reference other works within their own. They talk of their works in borrowed terms, and it seems to be validated by critics because they can be linked. They deliberately remake others ideas as their own. I have always thought the worst thing you could say to an artist about their work is that it is derivative. Originality comes from somewhere, from culture, but deliberate referencing of others ideas always seems to me to be something a bit different to Fine Art, and towards pastiche.

I have always wanted to create and discover my own visual language, and although in a way perhaps one could “do better” by working in this more academic, post goldsmiths way, I find my reasoning forming and matching my instincts. It makes for a more slow burning career perhaps. I think it is an issue which permeates alot of current contemporary practice and education. More to think on.

Emma's comments:

I asked you to think about the effect of the view Gallery on your own personal work as well as how you negotiate the terrain of exhibiting online as well as in real space. You clearly have aptitude as an enabler/curator and hope you will continue to think how to make this part of your practice or allied to it. I think it's really important that artists take up this role as they have first-hand experience rather than coming through a theoretical/critical route. Can you embed this more overtly in your professional context unit?

You seem to be more animated about your practice in recent months and that's good to witness.

15th November 2011