#stodefad

[gabrielle-distin-artist]

Reference P1, P2, P3, P5 Following my planned schedule in week two of the project I began to make maquettes of ideas. Pictured is the first one - referencing the work of Kader Attia - an idea of using a construction fence - with life size body parts pushing or breaking through it. I used photos of fellow students arms in this maquette. Following a discussion with Duncan which included a demonstration of how to use concrete following maquettes used concrete feet for the fence. However I realised very early on my own physical difficulties (some tendinitis/arthritis in my right hand) would make the technical and physical aspect very difficult to create large concrete sculptures in the college setting. I therefore started to question whether it would be practical for me to continue with that idea and so continued develop different ideas and to broaden my research into different materials, techniques and artists. #stodefad #strodecollege #fmp #finalmajorproject #maquette #concrete #kaderattia https://www.instagram.com/p/B_cAmFbFzW8/?igshid=8pv95xsp89f1

[gabrielle-distin-artist]

Reference P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 Today I’m continuing with the story of the history of my project. These photos are of some of the first pages of my sketchbook showing early brainstorming of how to develop ideas from the previous project. In particular using texture in my work and pushing myself to use materials new to myself - my first idea was to use concrete for a 3D work - I started to research how to use it and the effects and textures possible. I started to look at how women in different times and cultures have been restricted by their clothing but still able in many cases to achieve great things. I wanted my work to express that positive side therefore the idea of pushing or breaking through barriers to success. I noted and saved on day two of my research (3rd Feb) an article about face masks in response to Covid 19, without fully understanding what was soon about to happen, but linked that to the wearing of veils. I looked at ways in which veiled women have been portrayed in classical art - in particular the 1515, The Donna Velata by Raphael. I also started to looked at contemporary artists work in particular that of Kader Attia whose work I liked because I of the rawness and texture of the materials, the repeated images or objects and the symbolic nature of many of his works. I was also looking at the work of Paul Ritter who in the 1960s and 70s had developed a technique of using concrete which he called Sculptcrete. #stodefad #strodecollege #fmp #finalmajorproject #artexploration #earlyideas #sketchbook #veiledwomen #raphael #donnavelata #thedonnavelata #kaderattia #concrete #paulritter #sculptcrete https://www.instagram.com/p/B_b-MIhF_Jf/?igshid=4eon4gm96eql

[gabrielle-distin-artist]

Reference P6 Today I wanted to explain a little about how I started my current project and for that I have to go to my previous project which was in response to the brief Travel and Explore. I started this project exploring many different avenues and themes eg the travel of refugees; the need to have a home base; the journey of birth; evolution as a journey after visiting the Skelton of Lucy in Ethiopia; exploring the inner subconscious mind; travel of commuters to work; and my own travel as a backpacker and as an expat. I will go back and explore some of these themes later on but the final focus of my project came today me as inspiration when I was casting the head of my daughter in plaster. As I made the modroc mould I gave her paper and pen so she could communicate while her eyes and her mouth were covered. This made me think of Hijabi women (women wearing Islamic veils) who I have come to know during my time living in Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I started to wonder how having their faves covered affects how they think, feel and communicate. This journey I undertook to work on this project was emotionally, cognitively and physically challenging. I confronted my confusion about how I feel about the hijab - from a western, feminist viewpoint of feeling that women are repressed by being forced to cover and this being reinforced by high profile campaigners. On the other hand I know many Hijabis and all of them are very positive about the experience. I interviewed and recorded some of these women’s views and feelings about why they wear the Hijab. My work was influenced by Iranian artist Shirin Nishan and Palestinian artist Laila Shawa. I created this 3D work in these photos to represent this exploration. Each woman in this triptych wrote how they felt when they couldn’t verbally communicate and that writing was screen-printed onto a sheer fabric which I dipped into a thick plaster paste to create their ‘Hijabs’. I had been greatly influenced by the work of Evelyne Galinski, I particularly like the texture she creates in the surface of her sculptures. I created texture on these heads by pulling off the modroc while the plaster was still curing#stodefad https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ZncBBFA4n/?igshid=iiv08k01nph8

[gabrielle-distin-artist]

What do you feel or think when you see this work? (several photos) I’m continuing to experiment with combining different aspects of the work I’ve done for my current project, here combining serval sets of my machine embroidery. The eyes are those of fellow students. I’m combining the work in different ways and taking time to assess how it looks and and how it makes others think and feel. #stodefad #strodecollege #fmp #finalmajorproject #machineembroidery #chickenwire #stayathome #isolationart #isolationcreation #covid_19 #covi̇d19 #coronavirus https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ShnfUl87V/?igshid=nxrvoo6fr4zt

[gabrielle-distin-artist]

A very short time lapse video of an experiment that so far isn’t quite working out - to mould my face in chicken wire. The weave of this wire is too large to take on the shape of details at least in the way that I’ve been trying it so I will continue to experiment and do some more research about techniques and materials. #stodefad #strodecollege #artexperiments #fmp #finalmajorproject #chickenwire #chickenwiresculpture https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Sc3g4FSLW/?igshid=ajje6gz86xeb