UNIT 7

Jessie - having the blind down is interesting as in my mind it relates to theatre and the gauzes that both reflect and transmit light, to create various effects. In the space, you are concealing the outside world but then as you move around the blinds allow one to see through at certain points where the light shines through – revealing it. I was trying to think about what the opposite of a reflection is – is it a shadow? Or is it just an object/being etc as it is on its own?

I hadn’t initially thought about the groups interest in the mirrors and its relation to my exploration of Jeff Wall’s ‘Picture for Women’ and Manet’s ‘A Bar at the Folie Bergere’ and both their use of the mirror, one using it as a space to show other details of the scenario, the atmosphere and environment (the Manet) and the other disguising it in the picture plane, Wall is placing us into the image, though we are invisible, we are the camera.

I like this idea that we have created an imaginary mirror, running through the middle of the studio (inbetween our two rooms)

The use of two rooms and making them replicas of each other reminds me of Benjamin and his idea of reproductions – which is the room that is replicating the other? Which is the first room we ‘build’ and copy from? Does this matter? Does this alter if we are entering the studio from different sides (the two entrances/exits at either end?)

Initially after reading the previous posts I was trying to think about what makes something surprising? It was here I began to think about colours (perhaps after my recent trip to India) and the use of bright colours, particularly against the black and white wallpaper. (This is something I have noticed in colours in London which stand out against our dull landscapes, but are also slightly muted due to the lack of sunlight/ light beneath the clouds we live under)

What is the significance of two of the same thing, of reflection/something doubled? Will the works have more impact or less? If we were to use mirrors (although I know we’re not) it would bring the viewer into the context of the art works surrounding them, (questionably) becoming a piece themself.

Reflections interested me in that we cannot see our present self in the mirror at the exact point in which we look at ourselves because of the speed of light. This is something I am currently trying to understand further.

The walk in between the rooms creates an anxiety which then perhaps will turn into surprise as they enter the second room.

We are relying on the memory of the viewer, of what they see initially and then notice again in the second room. People will choose different pieces of our art that they are interested in to recognise later in the second room.

So, I am still not completely sure of what I am showing yet, I am enjoying seeing the space develop and making work from this, I like this idea of movement through the space imbetween the rooms and what thoughts the viewer may have during this moment. Cecilie’s pattern evokes a kind of movement I think and today I was messing around with a little video on the wallpaper which could (if I decide to continue it) edit in some way and project on another different surface (though this is just a brief idea). I also thought about a film of someone talking or some kind of sound, in one room then repeated in the second room, but completely in reverse. Hope this

Sorry I realise there are lots of questions, many of which we will realise when the rooms are set up which is exciting,, and I’m sorry about the mass of words just thought I’d get them down.

Some inspirations: