Lauren Travers @laurentravers97-blog - Tumblr Blog

My Process Book: Gender & Intimacy by Lauren Travers (2019)

I am really pleased with the outcome of my process book. Intimacy is conveyed through the size of the book. Its small and compact nature makes the viewer want to hold it close to the body to read.

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Video of Vinyl Sticker in the lift with Movement

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The vinyl sticker is finally in the lift!

I am really pleased with the outcome. I paid for the FastSigns guys to install the vinyl because it would have been very tricky to install it by myself. I did not want to mess it up because it was expensive. The vinyl looks amazing and it is really effective. People using the lift are enclosed in a tight space to view my vinyl image. The claustrophobic and uncomfortable nature of the space in the lift reflects the intimate exchanges taking place inside the loomed material.

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We are currently experiencing a gender fluid movement. I used a textile process called looming to create a large amount of knitted material. I chose this process due to its gender politics and association with the feminine. I have shown that this art form is gender neutral by concealing gender identity with the material. In the process, intimate shapes were created with the bodies inside the material. Intimacy levels changed depending on the relationship and proximity of the people inside the material. I captured this by using photography and video. By using these mediums in small spaces the viewer may experience uncomfortable intimacy on the outside by watching intimate exchanges taking place.

Lauren Travers. Gender & Intimacy. 2019

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After Graduation

I am unsure about my future career path. However, my degree has helped me develop transferable skills for the work place. Becoming co-leader of the fundraising team required organisational skills to coordinate events, such as Art Market, First Fridays, Digbrew: BAAAD Partay and various BAAAD SHOP activities to raise money for the degree show. This role required me to keep track of finances and also helped me develop my teamwork skills. Being a Night School committee member has helped me develop my communication skills. I was able to work with students across different years and work efficiently with the head of BCU marketing team to promote events.

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BAAAD Leavers Hoodies

As a leader of the Fundraising team, I decided to organise leavers hoodies for the year as a memento of our time at university. I worked with the Publication team for the design on the back. The design has everyones face on it and links with the publication for the degree show. I created many PhotoShop mocks up of possible hoodie designs. I created the Birmingham City University School of Art logo on the front. Then, I researched personalising hoodie companies for the cheapest quote. I was proud of the outcome. I managed to get 29 people out of 36 to buy one. I kept track of money and sizes using an Excel spreadsheet. This has helped raise extra funds for our degree show.

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23.05.19

Decreasing the Amount of Structures

After talks with Stuart, Gareth, Lisa & Andrew I have decided to get rid of the box-like structures. All the structures were very aggressive in comparison to the delicate nature of the video. I made my video so it could be projected on to a small screen to invite people to stand close to it. The structures were doing the opposite because I realised that it might not be clear for the viewers to go inside.

I have decided to use one large cladded structure to hide the video from people entering through the door. This will make the viewers walk around the cladded structure to get close to my video.

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Structures

I arranged the structures into different positions in the basement. I wanted to control how people move around my work to view my video on my back-projection frame. I wanted the video to be hidden, so people cannot see it from the door.

I placed the structures in the middle of the black wall so people would walk clockwise around them. However, it was not controlling enough because people can view the video from too many angles.

I put the structures in the corner of the room meaning everyone can only view the video by walking in and out of the same area. This is the most effective way of displaying my work. However, there could be health and safety issues - e.g. wheelchair access , tripping hazards.

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16.05.19

Preparing the Space

We cleared the basement and tidy the room in preparation for the final show. We decided to paint the basement black to make the space darker for the projections.

Due to the space being dark, I decided to not purchase a vinyl floor sticker relating to the lift floor. Also, I did not want the sticker relating to the lift because my work is not about the lift. I was only using the lift due to it being a small enclosed space.

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12.05.19

Back-Projecting Frame

structure width: 60cm

Height of projection: 37cm

Pulled back-projection tight over frame.

L shape bracket to large for wooden frame - had to cut down.

I am really proud of the outcome of the screen.

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07.05.19

Assembling Structures

With the help of the show build team, we were able to build my structures in the basement. They were the first ones made. We had to work together as a team to figure out the best way to assemble them.

The structures were a bit wobbly due to the uneven floor. Then Lydia and I attached the cladding to make them stronger.

I kept one of the frames without cladding (last photo). This is because I want to use my back-projecting frame on this structure. I used a projector & piece of paper to measure the width and height to build a back-projecting frame.

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09.05.19

Repurposing My Loomed Material

Due to the workshops being closed and the basement being cleared of work, I had to take my material back to the flat. I decided to leave the material stretched over the sofas to form a blanket. I feel like this is a good place to leave it because I spent hours looming on this sofa in front of the TV. So now it is finished, my flatmates and I can enjoy the warmth provided by the material.

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PhotoShop - Official Mock Up Image for the Lift.

I have chosen the image above to put inside the lift.

Fast Signs

Clear Vinyl (Cheapest option)

£121.28 + VAT

123.5 x 190cm window

£75 extra to get them to install it

Photo - resize to correct measurements, Tiff file, 300 dpi

Takes 2-3 days to make

How to install - spray window with water - stick on vinyl. Rub down.

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Group Q Feedback

With Andrew

01.15.19

Lift:

Lift floor - take photos of tiles!!! resize the image, 300 dpi.

Print onto vinyl at Fast Signs (same time as window sticker - will they give a discount?)

Floor size = 140cm (length) x 100cm (width)

Window sticker in lift - get Lisa to ask Graham for permission.

Get the men to install it (pay extra) so that I do not mess it up.

Do not need to stop lift as they install it.

OFFICIAL LIFT WISON SIZES: 123.5cm (width) x 190cm (length)

Display:

Push frame as close to back wall as possible - make a corridor?

Make it as intimate as possible.

In the photos above, people can easily walk out of the box.

Silver tape is not obvious enough. Need to link to lift to make it more obvious.

Get a vinyl floor sticker of lift floor.

I created a Photoshop mock up of what the floor vinyl would look like. I have taken a image of the floor tiles from the lift and inserted it in the grey box. I think this looks much better and shows a clear relation to the lift.

140cm x 100cm Floor

Used Photoshop to make the floor black & white - light reflections from the lift lights were distracting because they were yellow.

Cropped & changed perspective on photo.

PROBLEMS:

I do not want my work to be about the lift.

I am using the lift because I want to display a photo in a small enclosed space.

Might not see it on floor if the room is dark.

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Final Video for Degree Show

Final Video

Out of the videos created, I found close up shots worked best.

Ambiguous & people cannot tell the gender inside & if they are naked or not.

Very intimate uncomfortable shapes.

Possible Titles for video:

Conceal

Concealing Gender and Intimacy

Intimacy

Uncomfortable Intimacy

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Artist Research

‘The Artist Is Present’ by Marina Abramović

‘Since the early 1970s, Marina Abramović has been pushing past perceived limits of the body and mind, and exploring the complex relationship between artist and audience, through performances that challenge both herself and, in many instances, participants emotionally, intellectually, and physically. The concepts inspiring her works are key, as is the use of her own body to convey her ideas. She has been making art since childhood, and realized early on that it did not have to be produced in a studio, or even take a concrete form.’

https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/marina-abramovic-marina-abramovic-the-artist-is-present-2010/

Awkwardness is created by these intimate exchanges. I want to make the viewer feel uncomfortable when watching my video to reflect the intimacy inside the material.

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Initial Display Designs

Below, I have worked with Lydia from the Show Build team and Ellie from the Curation team to plan how I will show my video in a controlled environment. The first image is a quick sketch to show that I need to build 4 walls & wooden frame. Then Lydia brought my ideas to life with measurements and a digital sketch.

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