Saturday 27 September 2014

Final and Fifth Year of Study!!


Yes, this is the final and fifth year towards completing my BA (hons) in Creative Arts.  One more module - Individual Practice/Self Directed Study.  The time has come to get practically creative again.  It's been a long time out of the studio consequently that first step into the studio is a wee bit daunting.   


No change in that I have had many ideas in relation to this module and it has been challenging to hone in and get my hooks into one concept.

Concepts considered:  Following on from my rather playful dance videos that I often make whilst on holiday to entertain my husband John I could expand this and create dances that respond to different natural environments.




Jane Eaton Drawing and Dancing (Vela Luka, Croatia. The Bell Tower).

Being a practitioner of Tai Chi I thought of using the physical sequences that are so connected to nature, energy etc. - drawing the body gestures on a human scale using line. Here again repetition is a constant in Tai Chi.  This could be approached with support on a vertical or in a horizontal position. I was particularly inspired by Trisha Brown drawings (dance choreographer and visual artist) in relation to both these concepts.



Trisha Brown Drawing/Performance



I am very interested in using this method to create work.







Tony Orricco drawing using his whole body - very interesting approach where whole body is connected to the ground.  A very physical and quite exhausting way of making work - but great way of making marks.

It is very important that the study area reflects my own personal essence and following on from my previous study modules I have developed an interest in making work that connects to the ground. This idea has been generated by my continuing enquiry and research into Japanese culture, in particular to Zen Buddhism/Taoism which has such a strong influence within Japanese and East Asian cultural arts.  I wish to engage with the horizontal approach to making work, using repetition as a discipline generating and emphasising our contact with reality. I also wish to explore presenting work that physically connects to the ground and could be multi-functional both outside and inside. This approach is very different to the Western model of art, where elevation/the vertical/status appear to be so prevalent and dominant.


"The arts of Zen are not intended for utilitarian purposes or for purely aesthetic enjoyment, but are meant to train the mind, indeed, to bring it in contact with ultimate reality".  D. T. SUZUKI

 
Inspired by the natural environment surrounding my village in Wiltshire, a place where I walk with my dog every day I have made a direct connection with the great oaks which are dominant both in their stature and their numbers within the area.  They will provide the subject for research and exploration within this module.

The English oak is indigenous to the UK growing naturally after the ice age and not planted by humans.  'The tree of life' - rooted so firmly to the earth, tall, strong, broad, flexible, encompassing, durable, dense, provider, replenishing, cyclical.  Its components express such a variety of textures, contours and has many metaphorical associations with humans. The oak is also significant as an emblem/symbol associated with British identity.  In addition, many other connections, e.g. myths and legends, paganism etc.  I perceive it to be a great stimulus for creativity.

Working with brush and ink, print and oil on various supports, monochromatic experimental and exploratory images will be developed. 

My aim is to develop individual pieces of work which can be further extended and utilized/transposed onto other materials and included as a component within a practical application.

Book Reference: The Zen Art Book  The Art of Enlightenment by Stephen Addiss & John Daido Loori. (Adapted from The Zen Art Box Shambhala Publications 2007)






Examples of contemporary abstract ink and brush from various internet sources