#time based project

[darrencruz]

2 Week Taster - Time-Based

Language Task

Notes

Collection of thoughts and other things said about the task

•It’s really quite interesting that, when the sequence is reversed, it appears that the subject is being influenced by external forces and tries to keep the pressure in. Quite the opposite compared to my initial theme, where the subject is being affected by their own internal pressure that they put into themselves.

•Connecting to the previous thought; it can be interpreted as, the subject being affected by all kinds of factors if you dismiss the fact that the sequence is supposed to follow a linear/ one way direction. The subject in the middle symbolises that they are the ones that are one stuck right at the middle of everything. 

•Choosing between using either “words” or “thoughts” as the ongoing text for the sequence was very tough, but I made my choice and here are my reasons for my verdict. First of, I felt that the former has a better connection with the idea of “language”; there is a better sense of verbal communication, and the fact that what we say are “words”, it’s a clear indication that the subject is trying to say something. While the latter is far more rooted in visual communication, where if the person tries to tell me there are thoughts in their head, I would imagine someone with an imaginative mind rather than being troubled by something. Which is to say that when someone does say that they have thoughts in their head, it can mean that they are troubled, but when it is being expressed that there is unspoken words (feelings) that needs to be let out, I feel that, it is definitely more effective.

•Henrietta Harris has definitely been affecting the way I work, instead of just winging it and trying to tackle the task by using the traditional methods that I’m used to, I instead tried using photo-shop to create a example/test image. However, I did not expect the Photo-shop to be so good as to become the actual final images for the sequence.

[darrencruz]

2 Week Taster - Time-Based

Project #1 “Language”

Evaluation

I feel that it was a pretty successful artwork because it demonstrates the time-based aspects well; there is a clear sense of movement, and/or the passing of time. The sequence follows a the linear movement, the image moving from the left side of the page to the right. Finally, I feel that I followed the theme for the task well which makes the final piece understandable and fair to interpret.

Of course there are aspects that I felt was lacking, one example is the photo-shopped images. I feel that they could be done better, because they appear to be a bit too cubic, yet I want the subject to look very human. However I know that with a bit of time I feel that I could’ve definitely done better. Honestly I feel that the photo-shops, in general could’ve used with a bit of a touch up, or just redone with an alternative technique.

So if I did get another chance, and given all the equipment in the world to do the same task all over again, I feel that there are a lot of improvements that can be done to better the bad and even the good aspects to make the piece look even better. I would definitely improve the Photo-shop quality (as I stated before) of the cut out of the subject, and I would, instead of using Photo-shop to create the de-saturating effect, I would use watered down black watercolour paint and add it onto the edges of the images and follow the same sequence as the previous Photo-shop images. Other than that, i feel that time is the only really obvious thing that will help improve my work, and next time I’ll make sure that I use my time correctly.

[darrencruz]

2 Week Taster - Time-Based

Artist Research - Henrietta Harris pt 2

There are so many other reasons why I chose Henrietta Harris as my first artist to research. Firstly she is an artist that I have known of previously, therefore I am quite comfortable with the way I can handle the research. Secondly, her work is actually really good at enabling the impression of movement and change, similar to a time-based work.

It’s interesting to note that she does this without actually being considered as  a contributor to time-based art.

Ventral Stream - 2013 / Victoria - 2013

Ventral Stream shows a form of change; the subject moves from surrealism to normalcy. This is quite obvious at first glance, looking at the different stages, from left to right, the subject doesn’t even have the top side of his face. The second stage, the top half is slowly connecting to the lower half of his face. Finally, the subject has a fully assembled face. Again very simple to follow, which I like, not only is the painting really more about style, but there is a fair few rooms for substance (I’ll leave it up to you to interpret).

In fact a lot of Harris’ work, containing people as subjects, conveys change; movement, the passing of time and even the passing of an emotion.

.Fixed It II, III, V and VIII - 2016

Fixed It explains the idea of an individual’s emotional transition really well. The first thing that people will notice is how the subject’s face is over-layed with a messy coat of pink, which covers most of the facial features. When trying to look through the pink layer, you can kinda tell that the faces underneath are actually well painted with a lot of time and care given into them. it’s very interesting, the artist seems to, at some point, given up on her painting, or became very angry and just started to mess it all up. it’s basically expressing how a simple destructive act can be a massive blow to a piece that’s been so thoroughly formed. Its a good showcase on an individuals patience, and how fragile it can be. I definitely like this collection purely for it’s simple, yet wonderfully constructed visuals.

 Of course there are far more ways to interpret her work, especially her Fixed It collection. I was more focused on aspects that connect her work to my time-based projects. However it does mean that the potential for further studying her work is very much there, if I find a need to do so.

[darrencruz]

2 Week Taster - Time-Based

Artist Research - Henrietta Harris pt 1

Flee - 2012

The first time the class was asked to research an artist, it was recommended to research an artist who has close ties to the current project (at that time it was the time-based taster project). However, I did not do that, instead I chose an artist with closer ties to traditional art.

Henrietta Harris is an illustrator, first and foremost, which is why her work often depicts people with faces displaced, and landscapes at the foreground with a red sunlight. Already stand out artist with her distinctive approach to realistic portraiture; showcasing highly detailed tonal shifts around the neck and at the folds of the subject’s eyelids, and in the Landscapes and Features collection, the hair is well highlighted just by the immense detail and care put to each strand and fold. The addition of the abstract language only makes for an even more unique illustration.

Wild - 2013

Her process is quite interesting; starting from a photograph, she then plays about with it on Photoshop, moving areas of the face around, and even removing some aspects. It is very carefully planned, with many stages, and she follows this process precisely so that the final paintings/drawings will benefit from a very good example to follow.

Landscapes and Features 2 - 2015

The mix of realism and abstract steps really stood out to me, especially the way she handles the two ideas, just looking at any painting I just think to myself, “ this looks right to me”. Visually her work is just so pleasing to look at. The abstract is very self-contained; it never leaves the subject, always staying connected one way or another. It is always easy to tell that we are looking at a person while also understanding that they are unusual. Flee, tells the idea of how we obscure facts about people, that we are only seeing the front that they like to show, while Landscapes and Features tell us how we look at strangers, faceless yet distinguishable with how they express themselves (either by what they wear or any other visuals). Henrietta Harris just really mixes the two ideas well, and I really appreciate that. it’s been an aspiration to me; to be able to create a good blend between abstract language and realism.

[researchy3t1annemie]

This is kinda what I wanted to do, but I can’t really seem to want to do it in such an agressive way, even that I love this video because I find it so important. It is build up in quite a good way I think!. Just watch it, it is great!

[researchy3t1annemie]

It is kinda too hardcore for my style, but I see the point of making this kind of video! It was kinda of what I was trying to do with one of my videos, but aparrently it is too much for many people! People step away when things are forced or over the top. Why do people do that. DO they not wanna hear the truth, but just life in ignorance.

[myvideosy3t1annemie]

imaginary landscapes 03

[myvideosy3t1annemie]

Imaginary Landscapes 01