Vessels. secret portraits: a visual conundrum

The minute all the MA essays and submissions were done I could really get down to completing Vessels, barring Christmas and family and all. Actually there were problems with the MA - perhaps to be discussed elsewhere on blog, which took up some of my precious time.

Although I had been working on and off with Vessels all year, there is nothing like a deadline to get things done, and I really had to pull out alot of stops for this. Still, life doesn't stop for art practice, and so it should be.

I had 46 bottles to complete, some more straightforward than others. I took apart all my prototypes and trials, and had to commit to techniques I had amassed over the year.

Firstly was eyes. After many alternative trials, I decided upon a single eye for each piece. I had considered pairs of eyes, faces, objects, but one eye creates just one point of focus, and with so many visual variables, it is the only feasible possibility that would work overall.

So, I went through all my family and friends photo files, editing, editing, editing, picking out this most minimal of portraits, the eye.

It is not easy to find so many clear images of family with the eye open, one unique to each bottle, so about 50.

Once done, I printed in best possible quality onto bright white paper, and then also onto acetate. Gluing these together, and cutting out, the eye looks as lit and real as a print can be. I then, using my collected implements - long tweezers, adapted sticks, skewers, glued them inside the bottles.

Also for each bottle, I cut to fit a piece of mirror, to sit at an angle. Each bottle is different, and difficult in its own way. And some have extremely narrow necks. After a few, one gets one's eye in more and more, and can visualise the required shape.

I have had this mirror material for some years, and have used it at various times in artworks.

I used adapted battery light mechanisms, both as a stand for each bottle - some have rounded bases and are not reliable stable, and to add what is the touch of magic to make them illuminate from within, and so that they can be seen at light and in low light.

light mechanisms taken apart to use as bottle bases

and sprayed silver

The bottles are glued onto the bases, and the more aluminium leaf covered the bases, to harmonise more. the batteries are changed easily, as part of the mechanism sits behind each bottle, covered with a silver disc, again to harmonise the eye. I had done fairly inconclusive battery life trials - if on for 24/7, they light retains its power for a few days - more if I use the expensive batteries.

Wrapping, packing, delivering to Newcastle and setting up. The set up went smoothly as I had thought through what may happen, and of course had to have already made all decisions. Even so, it is one thing to imagine, and quite another to see if everything will work on site. I have to say I was delighted with Vessels, and the year's work.

Setting up:

Some images of Vessels at the Gallery of Wonder, Newcastle:

http://www.galleryofwonder.co.uk/Info%20Eleanor%20MacFarlane.html

and at night:

(better images to follow)

Further plans for Vessels continues. I am talking to the West highland Museum in Fort William, where the original Bonnie Prince Charlie Secret portrait is, with hope of showing Vessels there.

http://www.westhighlandmuseum.org.uk/collections/the-jacobites/

I have family history and memories of there - the museum is part of the old MacFarlane house. 

17th April 2012