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PRACTICE, PITCH AND PUBLICATION:

In this studio-based module I will focusing on the research and production of
an advanced, self-negotiated project that has a professional focus. This module will help me prepare my practice for future exhibitions and wider professional applications.
 

What does this module include?

For assessment I will need to prepare to do:

  • A studio presentation

  • A digital STUDIOzine

  • Presentation of my ideas live to an interview panel

NEGOTIATED LEARNING PLAN :

Relevance:
What is your project?

My project is called 'disconnected' and I plan to make many mini series of works based on different mental heath issues and disabilities. I am going to focus on exploring distortion, fragmentation and sculpture. It is going to be based mostly around moods/emotions, society, mental health and self image/exploration as well. I want my work to explore 2D as well as 3D work and will be focusing on the materials and process that these pieces take to make. My aim for this project is to create work that you really have to look at to understand and not everything will make sense. 

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What do you need to do in terms of researching, preparing, collecting and making?

To start this project I will start with photography to see what sort of work and direction I want to go in with my pieces. After I have got some photoshoots to base my ideas off I will start by experimenting with different materials and methods and just seeing what I come up with and go from there. I am also going to research artists that focus on similar subject matter as well as people who work a lot with sculpture, texture and unusual art materials. I also want to research about how and why the brain reacts in certain ways regarding to mental health and what factors are the most prominent in this to help give my work more context and meaning..

 

How does this area of practice relate to other historical and contemporary art
practices?

I think any sort of art from all time periods normally have some sort of focus on negative subject matters,  Art for many people has been used as an outlet for representing societal issues, bad mental health and personal issues. A lot of artists do pieces based of these life experiences. An obvious example of this is Van Gogh, he expressed his severe depression and probable mood disorder through his art. There wasn't really any proper help/treatment in that time period so he used his art as a way to express himself, we can see from his work that this was his way of channelling his depression and his mental struggles.

Knowledge:
Within the context of your project, which art theory best underpins your area of practice?

My work will fit into instrumentalism and emotionalism as for this project I find it important that I have a message and I want people to have an emotional response to my work.

List 3 artists that share the same areas of interest for your project (why are they useful?/what do you hope to learn from them?):

  • Troy Simmons - Is a sculptor and multimedia artist that works with materials such as concrete, found objects and acrylic. He experiments with colour, texture and structure and this is why I like his work so much as I want to try similar techniques and materials.

  • Lola Dupre - Is an illustrator who works paper and scissors to create these really interesting pieces. I want to try similar methods to this within my own work and work work with distorting prints in multiple ways.

  • Brain Donnelly - is an artist who is known for designing limited edition toys and clothing. He is known for all sorts but the things that caught my eye is his large sculptures and acrylic paintings. I especially liked his series of faces that looked like they where dripping/melting and I think I can take some inspiration from his work.

Professional Practice (Establishing a self–directed studio practice):

I need to be in the studio for as long as can through out the week where possible as this will give me the best chance to create a good amount of quality work. I also need to start going out more to visit galleries that relate and will inspire me on my project. I will need to speak to the technicians at the university as I will be using lots of new materials that I might need help working out/ creating a piece.I think the scheduled group crits will be good as its good to see others work presented and explained and gives me motivation to do more of my own work and Id need individual tutorials when/if I was struggling with ideas or how to progress my project.

Critical Evaluation (Analyses and critique of work):

I will start making and experimenting on a smaller scale to see which pieces of my work would get the best response from my class mates. Id do this by utilising my group crit to see what types of feedback I receive and to see if anyone has any ideas to further my work and also use other peoples work to reflect and see if I can take inspiration from. This will give me an idea which of my ideas are most interesting to an audience.

RESEARCH:

What are the main causes of DEPRESSION?

The main causes of depression can be:

  • Stressful Events - e.g. a death or a breakdown of a relationship. This might happen if you start seeing friends and family less and less and start to internalise/deal with your issues alone.

  • Personality - you might be more vulnerable to depression if you have certain personality traits such as low self esteem/being self critical a lot. These can come from your genes or things like your early life experiences.

  • Family History - If your parents, brother or sister have had/has depression it is more likely that you will also develop it.

  • Giving Birth - After pregnancy women are particularly vulnerable as there is a lot of hormonal and physical changes. There is also the risk of postnatal depression too.

  • loneliness - Being cut off from friends and family increases risks of depression as you are left alone with your thoughts.

  • Alcohol and Drugs - Alcohol effects the chemistry of the brain. Cannabis can help relax you but also shows evidence that it can bring on depression. People tend to drown their sorrows in drugs and alcohol which can result in a spiral of depression.

  • Illness - Longstanding illnesses like cancer or coronary heart disease means you are higher risk. Underactive thyroid can cause problems with the immune system and if the pituitary gland is damaged it can effect the thyroid-stimulating hormones again causing depression.

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What are the main causes of ANXIETY?

The main causes of Anxiety can be:​

  • Trauma - Children who endured abuse or trauma or witnessed traumatic events are at higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder at some point in life. Adults who experience a traumatic event also can develop anxiety disorders.

  • Illness - Having a health condition or serious illness can cause significant worry about issues such as your treatment and your future.

  • Stress - A big event or a build up of smaller stressful life situations may trigger excessive anxiety for example, a death in the family, work stress.

  • Personality - People with certain personality types are more prone to anxiety disorders than others are.

  • Other mental health disorders - People with other mental health disorders, such as depression, often also have an anxiety disorder.

  • Family - Like depression, anxiety can run in the family.

  • Drugs or alcohol - Drug or alcohol use or misuse or withdrawal can cause or worsen anxiety.

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MY WORK:

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