Evaluation (Contemporary Art Practice)
When I started this topic, I really wasn't sure what to expect. Contemporary art is something I had little to no experience with before the course, and it certainly wasn't something I was attracted to or particularly understood. Though we'd looked at a lot of artists and examples, I really had no idea or sense for what I wanted to do. It took me a long while to even look and Jean Tinguely and begin to get ideas for working in a similar theme and style. Even though I would look into this, I would eventually abandon what I was thinking about and moving onto something else entirely.
Although we'd looked at sound art and artists like Susan Philipsz, I never really considered this piece to be similar. The only way they were related were in the sense that they both played audio. Though the space was something I considered, it was more about the shape and look of the object than the environment. I feel like for the most part, I took my own route to get to this conclusion. I enjoy the concept of every day things being art, especially if it subverts expectations, which I think the box does. To have powerful words and sentiments coming from a disused worn box that we encounter everyday in our daily lives is definitely not something we'd expect.
As a result, I was actually really happy with my prototype. Both versions of the speech have their merits, and ultimately, I'm not sure which one I'd take further. The more aggressive 'War' Speech felt more like my original idea, and fits the box really well. It did everything I wanted it to do, though it did seem less relevant. In contrast, I felt the softer 'Depression' speech was relevant and closer to my heart, yet the audio was not delivered well, nor am I convinced the box is the best item in which to have the sound.
If I were to take the 'Depression' box further, I'd most likely try and get an actor more skilled than myself to try and deliver a more emotional speech. I'd want to change the container, yet at the same time, I don't have any inking for what that might be, or what it should be. The 'War' version is one I think is closer to the finished product. I'd want to try and create a electronic circuit that could play the audio itself and trip when the box lid was opened. The physical look and feel of the object is exactly how I wanted it to be. I'd maybe get another actor to record the dialogue too. I hate my own voice too much. Listening to both of these makes me cringe.
I honestly wasn't sure what to expect with this topic. There are some in our class who excel at this kind of stuff. And it's impressive to see what they come up with. I was completely out of my comfort zone, and had no idea what I wanted to produce. All I really knew was that I didn't want the piece to be taken too seriously, at least in it's outward appearance. I hate the pompous attitude that a lot of contemporary art can convey, and I feel a lot of it seems out of touch with the masses. My favoruite works were always the self aware ones that self mocked the medium. I wanted to capture that element in my work. The idea of a rubbish looking box being a piece of art in a podium in a gallery is an idea I absolutely love.
I'm happy that my prototype was as close to what I initially envisioned as it was. I don't think there's much I would do to change the idea, though I am curious about what a piece would look like if I'd followed my first idea of clinical deconstruction. I can't deny that because I struggled with this unit that I neglected it a little. I found it really hard to get excited about it, and to come up with ideas for it. Ultimately my favourite idea was not intended to be a piece of contemporary art, that being the 'Depression' themed animation. It's still something I'd like to do one day, and may soon try to do some storyboards or an animatic.
For me it's the ideas that are important. I wasn't sure how to handle the medium elements of contemporary art, but the ideas challenged me to think more. And ultimately that has inspired more ideas in me that I want to pursue outwith the course. And to me, that's a huge positive. I just hope my ideas and work are along the right lines.
Although we'd looked at sound art and artists like Susan Philipsz, I never really considered this piece to be similar. The only way they were related were in the sense that they both played audio. Though the space was something I considered, it was more about the shape and look of the object than the environment. I feel like for the most part, I took my own route to get to this conclusion. I enjoy the concept of every day things being art, especially if it subverts expectations, which I think the box does. To have powerful words and sentiments coming from a disused worn box that we encounter everyday in our daily lives is definitely not something we'd expect.
As a result, I was actually really happy with my prototype. Both versions of the speech have their merits, and ultimately, I'm not sure which one I'd take further. The more aggressive 'War' Speech felt more like my original idea, and fits the box really well. It did everything I wanted it to do, though it did seem less relevant. In contrast, I felt the softer 'Depression' speech was relevant and closer to my heart, yet the audio was not delivered well, nor am I convinced the box is the best item in which to have the sound.
If I were to take the 'Depression' box further, I'd most likely try and get an actor more skilled than myself to try and deliver a more emotional speech. I'd want to change the container, yet at the same time, I don't have any inking for what that might be, or what it should be. The 'War' version is one I think is closer to the finished product. I'd want to try and create a electronic circuit that could play the audio itself and trip when the box lid was opened. The physical look and feel of the object is exactly how I wanted it to be. I'd maybe get another actor to record the dialogue too. I hate my own voice too much. Listening to both of these makes me cringe.
I honestly wasn't sure what to expect with this topic. There are some in our class who excel at this kind of stuff. And it's impressive to see what they come up with. I was completely out of my comfort zone, and had no idea what I wanted to produce. All I really knew was that I didn't want the piece to be taken too seriously, at least in it's outward appearance. I hate the pompous attitude that a lot of contemporary art can convey, and I feel a lot of it seems out of touch with the masses. My favoruite works were always the self aware ones that self mocked the medium. I wanted to capture that element in my work. The idea of a rubbish looking box being a piece of art in a podium in a gallery is an idea I absolutely love.
I'm happy that my prototype was as close to what I initially envisioned as it was. I don't think there's much I would do to change the idea, though I am curious about what a piece would look like if I'd followed my first idea of clinical deconstruction. I can't deny that because I struggled with this unit that I neglected it a little. I found it really hard to get excited about it, and to come up with ideas for it. Ultimately my favourite idea was not intended to be a piece of contemporary art, that being the 'Depression' themed animation. It's still something I'd like to do one day, and may soon try to do some storyboards or an animatic.
For me it's the ideas that are important. I wasn't sure how to handle the medium elements of contemporary art, but the ideas challenged me to think more. And ultimately that has inspired more ideas in me that I want to pursue outwith the course. And to me, that's a huge positive. I just hope my ideas and work are along the right lines.
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