Claude Cahun

I.O.U

A photographic collage based on herself. (What does she owe?)

Uses masking techniques of make-up to cover the eyes.

All four faces stem from one neck, which could symbolize that individuals have many different faces/emotions/personalities etc.

The image is broken up and placed back together, and is described as shattered and splinted-
"The image, making the viewer painfully aware that it is constructed in and through ideology."

Around the four heads reads
"sous ce masque un autre masque. Je n'en finirai pas de soulever tous ces visages"
(Beneath this mask, another mask. I will not stop removing all these faces.)

I found this piece in a book named Self Image by Amelia Jones.

"The photographic image, which seems to promise but ultimately evacuates the 'presence' promised (by postmodern ritual images)."

This sentence made me think about photography and how human figures are seen.
Does the photograph take away all living qualities of the figure?
If so then surely what we see are people that have passed away?
Is photograhy a weapon?- We say "shoot" when video recording, but what would happen if people actually died?

Removing all personality. Taking away inhibitions.
What would happen if you paint/change a persons appearance and then take a photo? Do they become that inigma?
If so the photographer becomes in charge, the creator.

Tearing through material to see the person underneath/wiping paint off of the body.
Contrasting imagery as the person would still seem living even after the 'presence' has been removed.

Cardboard display

Been playing around with how I want my exhibition to look. I covered the whiteboard up with cardboard, and thought it would be a good idea to pile some boxes up to play my laptop in. I thought that this linked well with Emily Speed as the boxes could provide a hiding place and shelter. By taking some photographs of me within the boxes, I could see that it worked well and I really like how just a small area of the body on show makes you realise that there is a whole person hiding.

10/05/12

Making 'viels' from material and plaster cast to create wearable sculpture.
I am going to attach materials from different environments onto the veils so that it is also camouflage which links into my previous work with paint etc.
As well as the final photographs being displayed in the exhibition, I can include my veils which will add an extra aspect.

FMP

SECTION ONE – Your Final Major Project

‘Covering the Body’ is about the body, the way it can be used to communicate with an audience and how it can be hidden or camouflaged.

In previous work, I have experimented with paint, food and camouflage on the body. I would like to broaden my knowledge and understanding by researching traditional or religious coverings such as a veil, alongside artists who explore the body and coverings in their work.

I want to learn more about the history of these cultures so that they can influence the style of my work and the way in which they can be viewed.

I am going to construct a series of wearable sculptures that highlight the link between people, their environment and their culture.

I would also like to focus on photography as part of my project as I find it very interesting. As well as this, I want to make coverings from found materials relating to the environments they were taken from.

SECTION TWO – Influences, Research, Sources and Ideas 

I am basing this project on my previous work, therefore I have already researched into artists who have used coverings on the body, for example, Boo Ritzen uses the body to paint on so that it is aesthetically pleasing, whereas Ana Mendieta uses her own body with an environment to outline political issues. I am planning trips to various galleries/museums such as The Imperial War Museum and the Manchester Art Gallery to help me research the reasons why artists have used coverings to hide the body. I will also be able to find information on the internet and also my local library will have many books that will help me.

I would like to research body language, proxemics and artists that use coverings/materials on the body.

All my research will be on my Blog.

SECTION THREE – Techniques, Processes and Timescale

I have constructed a plan for the upcoming eight weeks that will allow me the time to research, experiment and finalise my project.

I want to work with such materials as paper and wire, as well as natural matter.

After researching coverings, I am going to construct my own out of various materials that are specific to an environment. These ‘coverings’ can be worn but will also be a working sculpture which could also be included in the exhibition.

When I have constructed my coverings, I want to take photographs of a person draped in the covering in the original location. The idea behind this is that the covering will be modified so that it replicates the specific area it is placed in, to create a camouflage effect.

SECTION FOUR –  Method of Evaluation

I will receive a peer review through discussions and group critique. This will help me a lot because they are involved with both similar and different work as me, so I will be able to get a lot of varied feedback. I will also complete an ongoing reflective practice log.

Tutor feedback will also help me as it will be another point of view I can work with.

'Covering the Body'

New title for my FMP. Mainly want to use/hide faces in bust shots. I could make this work into something to do with identity, abuse, shame, anxiety, depression etc. The face is used to advertise merchandise and is always 'perfect'/ But what if the face was hidden? Hiding the face takes away identity and speech. After looking at some more artists, I have found some images of painted people and backgrounds so they look like a painting in a photograph, although when another person is placed in the same environment, the effect is very noticeable - but stills plays with your mind. The paint is still very much like Boo Ritsen - which I like. I haven't thought about painting the background as well as the body. I could look into that more... The effect would be really great. I don't know if that is what i want to do anymore........

08/05/12

I constructed a piece of material by placing lots of different materials and fabrics onto plain cotton and pinned it into a composition that I found pleasing. I tried to find materials that had a lot of texture and patterns. Then i sewed them together on the sewing machine using a free machining foot. I tried to create a lot of texture and movement by adding different shapes to it and also going over patterns that were already on the fabrics to exaggerate the patterns.

Covering with mask

When looking round the studio, I found an old hairdressing head. I cut the rubber mask off and was unsure what I wanted to do with it. Then I remembered Gillian Wearing's 'Self Portrait at Three Years Old'. I experimented with the mask and the background of my photographs. I found the paint studio a little cluttered    so I hung some black fabric and placed a light on one side. But using the macro setting on the camera, I was able to take some very interesting shots close up. I wanted to get the detail around the eyes to make the mask more apparent.

I am very happy with these photographs but I am unable to see how I would fit this style into my work.

01/05/12

After looking as Roger Ballen, I want to create a range of masks or coverings that go over the face. This will stop eye contact and make the viewer feel uneasy.

Going to experiment with materials to make masks. Layering fabric will be a starting point as I feel it will give me a great intricate texture. I also want to work with wire.

24/04/12

Today was mainly used for research. I also wrote a list of locations I could use in my photographs. I also wrote about what is significant about each location. This will help me when selecting a location as i can match the theme with the similar surrounding. e.g a cold shaded place will be used for a lonely, contemplation shot.

I have taken a few photographs of three locations already. I am going to print these off so i can have them handy if I need them.

I am going to use the rest of the week to look at ways I can manipulate these images and find the easiest way to do so. I can then use this knowledge when editing my final images.

23/04/12

found today quite useful as I pulled together some more research. I need to decide what area I'm going to go into. (i was looking at furniture like Alan Jones, but also research links to different topics)
confused what my final outcome is going to be...

Ideas:
- Furniture e.g lamps, magazine racks
- Covering the body with fabric
- Looking at Roger Ballen has made me think more about photography and creating stills with a story behind them.
- Also Ballen gave me the idea of masks/ covering the face


Looking back I am mainly researching how the body is hidden, and not necessarily how it is used.

Getting used to drawing the life model. I have started to develop my own drawing style, which involves a lot of feathered lines and hard mark making on top to create finer detail.
I enjoy the sessions but find it hard to concentrate sometimes and often strains my eyes after a long period of time.
I need to experiment more with different materials and styles.

Skelentons

Todays seshion went better than i expected. I really liked the chalk sketches as the chalk creates great shading and preduces good markmaking- although it is very prone to smudging so fixing spray must be used to save the original form. The lines also give the picture movement.
In future I need to practice drawing so that the image fits onto the paper, as I had trouble fitting everything in.

Materials used: Chalk, pencil, charcoal, biro pen