Process & Production

[processandproductionchloehiggins]

Artist Statement

My work is something that I feel is very personal and honest, I always use my work to convey my emotions at that specific time of making, to communicate and evoke emotion from anyone who views it. I’m a very versatile artist, coming from Applied Arts, I tend to have an affinity for using a wide range of materials and self exploration through experimental approaches such as mark making. Although my work always has a story to tell, I’d like to believe it can be led by imagination and interpreted in different ways by my audience, that’s how we can thrive off of one another and share our stories, ideas and art together. I look forward to my 4th year to further develop my practice and how I approach work as well as extending my knowledge of contemporary art.

[processandproductionchloehiggins]

PROCESS & PRODUCTION EVALUATION

For this module I wanted to create a body of work that represented myself and the struggles I face due to my mental health and how I feel about my own body.  I wanted to do this through some research of uncanny valley initially and other artists that too look into this area as I thought it would be interesting how I would tie in both uncanny valley and ideas surrounding body dysmorphia.  This body of work was also to express the importance of imposter syndrome and how it is a very real thing for many people, including myself, constantly doubting myself think I am not good enough in every way my brain can possibly think of, I used my work here as an outlet for these feelings and channelling any negative inner thoughts into something more positive. 

I knew that I wanted to use this time to get back into drawing and painting whilst also having a 3D outcome as I feel it’s important to have both 2D and 3D representations of my work.  To start off my development process I decided to create mono prints of various facial expressions, these were all very quick and automatic because I didn’t want to spend time ‘perfecting’ as I wanted the prints to be unpredictable and only capture the essence of a human - just like with uncanny valley, we look at the relationship between an object etc and how it resembles that of a human being.  I used myself as reference throughout when drawing faces and bodies - creating an honest, vulnerable and personal project that I truly needed after the past few months. 

I tend to use clay within my work as I like to produce maquettes of any ideas I have or turn my 2D work into 3D for a different perspective - I always gravitate towards clay as it’s versatile, easily manipulated and great for drawing from.  For the past few years I have been heavily influenced by this idea of wrapping an object and leaving behind its ‘shell’, and I knew that I wanted to do this with myself in some way for my final piece.  I decided on using mod roc to cast parts of my body to then paint, a material that I have little to no experience with.  I tried to use as few layers as possible to ensure fragility was a major factor within the piece (although another layer wouldn’t have went a miss), this is because I wanted to compare this piece in stark contrast to a previous short film of mine that encapsulates the idea of stereotypes against women and breaking free from them, whereas this piece shows me now, broken down - this piece just like in the short film was an installation in my bath - a place that we usually go to escape from reality.

Overall, I am pleased with my final piece and images, it conveys the idea of feeling broken mentally and physically due to our appearances.  I knew it would be a risk using mod roc as I wasn’t sure of what the result would be, but this only adds to the process of unpredictability, something I would want to continue to study in future developments.

[processandproductionchloehiggins]

FINAL 10 IMAGES SUBMISSION

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FINAL SUBMISSION - SHORT VIDEO ‘I AM MY OWN WORST ENEMY’

For this video edit I wanted to create an unsettling atmosphere, here I wanted to use the casts and destroy them ‘drowning’ them in the bath. Conveying the idea of degradation through years of breaking myself down due to how I look. I was inspired by uncanny valley to ensure I capture the essence of a human, through misplaced body parts and everything not quite being what it seems. I knew I wanted to use the bath as a means for an installation again as for some it’s a way for them to relax, and for others, like myself, use it as a means to escape reality, to be vulnerable, or even to cry when no one is watching. This was a very personal project for myself, revealing how I view my body and sharing it with the world. I like to use sounds that make not only myself but many others feel this sense of uneasiness and discomfort - in this case clocks ticking.

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Last video project used for inspiration for installation site and final piece. Showing me ‘breaking free’ from the stereotypes thrown at women.

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P&P - Health and safety checklist

Wearing gloves during mixing of cyanotype chemicals and applying chemicals to paper

Wash hands if any chemicals still manage to get onto your skin

Using clothing/cling film to protect skin in mod roc casting process for final piece

Take care when using scissors to cute mod rod to size

Ensuring plug is properly in plughole to ensure no excess plaster from that cast can’t escape into the drain whilst in the bath water

Clean work space after use to ensure there is no possibility for trip hazards

Take care when cutting and working with wire

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Images of final piece in bath, disconnected random body parts representing myself broken down in comparison to my last project using myself in the bath. I will narrow down my final to 10 final images and a short 2 minute video will also be apart of my final submission uploaded with the previous video for comparison.

[processandproductionchloehiggins]

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Adding wire to parts of the openings on the mod roc casts to emphasis the disconnection between myself and my body, once wired up it’ll be ready to go in the bath for final installation piece.

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More abstract pieces from Gregor Wright (untitled, 2012)

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Forgot to add previously on my tumblr. Again looking at and taking inspiration from the work of Glasgow artist Gregor Wright, his work consists mainly of abstract forms conveying ideas of chance, luck and philosophy of the mind. I have looked at the work of Wright’s before and I feel he is still a very relevant artist to inspire my practice as we work in similar ways from materials to experimental approaches.

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Gregor Wright is an artist based in Glasgow. His work is informed by a variety of interests including science fiction narratives, early comp

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Added a blown up clear bag to help stabilise the piece, if I was to ever do this again I know to add an another layer or 2 - but this method is working well to keep it in shape, will use this for stability for final installation.

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Painting time, slightly more fragile than I first thought but it’s okay, getting there! Recreating another version of myself for me to beat up - can’t wait!!!

[processandproductionchloehiggins]

Results from casting. I want to have parts missing, rearrange parts to where they aren’t meant to be, misplaced. I wanted to use modroc as an unpredictable material where the outcome is left to chance due to thickness of layers and how it dries etc. These pieces are distressed and will be painted on top of, the mod roc can be manipulated and it’s unravelling brings further emphasis of it’s fragile quality.

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Development photographs of final piece.