Tutorial Report 33 Les Bicknell

Date:     16^th June 2014                                Tutor: Les Bicknell

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Reflection on outcomes since last tutorial

Had sent Les a few links, up to date with project including making day trials.

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Current projected aims and outcomes

Discussed issues of projection, and its mediating qualities. How to achieve moving image with the collateral damage of objectness. Since the piece works like a memory, Les imagined it with the projector  and cables, etc, out of sight. Suggested it happening in space – hanging thick paper or material by fishing wire in the middle of the gallery, and projecting each layer, so that the audience intervenes, but layers continue – floating in space, peeling of layers. Material with stiffened top, not sagging. Using two projectors, so combining image into one – could play infinite variations, showing layers separately.

Looking at the bookness. The images could theoretically be shown or rearranged in any order. Les asked about the specificness of school/memory/change, and that the buildings are inhabited at that time. The paint is also specific of space and suggests schools, blackboards, coat pegs, chalk, etc – to his eye. I am not planning to further highlight or place the images, or to specify a school reference. Les asked about references to Botanski work. I clearly see the parallels, but the differences lie in labelling and neutrality – Botanski clearly directs and labels faces to be seen and interpreted in a certain way – memorial, tragedy, loss, etc, whereas now that I have my images, I am aiming for a neutrality in how I deal with them, not directing the interpretation. Because of the material, I am consciously avoiding a World At War treatment. The narrative is independent of school – I see the photos as very revealing of character, even though it is such a small moment of time.

Talked about the pace of transitions. Les imagines something incredibly slow where you are not sure of the changes – Fischli and Weiss. (That’s another piece). I think of the moment as fluttering, it comes and goes.

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Discussion and recommendations

Discussed what sound I propose – layered, high, alpine classical music, to start with. Grieg. I seem to know what I am doing!

Reflection

I was trying to scribble down as much as possible because Les uses phrases that are good to ponder and to steal for work! I could see that he was testing some concepts against my thinking, and I really value some of those new avenues. Some of the suggestions – ways of projecting, etc, have led me to my own and different decisions about how to show the finished work. I realised that my work is always exploring the relationships between still and moving images, all through the process of making. I always complete with producing stills as part of the work, but I have never come up with a good way of incorporating that, but this tutorial lead me to a brainwave, and so I will be showing types of stills alongside the projection.

Hi Eleanor
- the sound.... I think we will all be in tears - what a treasure - you are wise to of recorded it 
- the face with the drying is the beginning of something - I went straight to Becket but this is not necessarily right 
- with the projection - the multiple possibilities are further enhanced by the many reflections off every surface around the projection 
thanks for all this 
your written reflection on the tutorial was very thoughtful - all is well - I have passed it onto Caroline.
Les

14th July 2014