Thursday 15 November 2012

Research And Media

Research and Media 


The Limits of an Object: Roger Hiorns from Vera List Center on Vimeo.

He continues to re-assess his work as he creates it. He links his work with the benign and his work becomes a disinterest of industrialisation. When he shows his work he never wants to be part of the display (or be 'present' in the work), leaving it up to the gallery to put their own hand to it; this makes the piece different every time. On 'Seizure' he is interested in making a synthetic environment which he tries to induce an uncomfortable anxiety into this space. He is also interested in making a spiritual environment (as a child he was very familiar with the church because he was a choir boy) that doesn't exactly exist. Through crystallisation it becomes something else. 'Seizure' began as a proposal which was a product of a mental crisis which amplifies through the work. This space he created becomes a depressing dark mass (dangerous chemical substance) and by this making it as inhospitable as he could. While the artwork was closed-off from the world for a few months, it became the perfect ambiguous space.
 - Making an object useless. (Burring an airplane underground).
 - Taking apart an object and reassembling it in some way. (engines and brain turned to dust).
  - Making a work immortal and or ritualistic. (a piece of silver laid into a church wall owned by the 'Oxbridge ' College).
  - Claiming an environment which has been claimed by an invisible higher being. (Churches).
  - Life can change. Acting as an artist. (You can continue to live and become something else, you just act and you just live. Absorb = Make, who are you making it for? The public or yourself?)
  Foam works exuding a substance - Objects in a space exuding substance as a reflection of us, humans. Sculpt with membrane contemporary metaphor for skin.


Artist on site: Roger Hiorns on Seizure from Artangel on Vimeo.

David Bolinsky: Visualising the Wonder of a Living Cell

David Bolinsky - Medical Artist and Illustrator. Truth and beauty in the biological sense. Molecular and cellular biology. Nano Biology.

This was a leaflet found with the sample floor tiles. It its in the same style and  font of the Liverpool Biannual Art Festival 'The Unexpected Guest' 


How Gems, Fashion and Luxury Have Changed Our Tastes


This is a clipping from ELLE magazine which shows our fascination with gems. A solid piece of Amethyst carved into a clutch bag.
The Crystal Caves of Bermuda
An enormous cavern surrounding an underwater lake of clear water. Two of the stalagmites are over 1 million years old, while other rock formations are reflected in the water. This place has now been turned into a cocktail bar for the tourists of Bermuda. 

Richard Weston, 'Blue Elestical Quartz' silk scarf. Sold at Liberty London.


Cube Houses - Rotterdam.

I based a series of paintings on the colours and crystal systems of different gems and minerals. Below are some examples.

Thin Section Painting Series

I created a series of circular watercolours based from existing gems and minerals. This is how I chose the colour and geometric pattern (based from their crystal system). I intentionally chose them to be round to mimic thin section taken from mineral to see their composition and to imply a microscope lens. 




This is a  design for a Hexagonal crystal system, following a method from the book 'Gemmologists' Compendium' by Robert Webster.

Pre-made Colouring Sheets
I found a book of Mandela drawings which inspired me to make my own colouring-in sheets. 


The Colour Results

I have been using the original matrix sheets to create these coloured versions. I originally wanted to use colours based from how we psychologically think about colour. This ended up being a failure because humans want to use all the colours not just one shade. I gave a few copies out to other students to fill-in; some of the results are below. 
My first attempt at using colour based from psychology 

A colouring done from a student

An ink painting of a Hematite crystal.
I think this is a successful drawing because of the shades of black ink infused with the resilient line of the graph-paper; it acts as an already present molecular crystal structure.

A reverse image of a coloured image from a student.  

A reverse image of a coloured image from a student.  

I think these versions look more effective because the areas are not being divided by black lines. 

A coloured image from a student.  

A coloured image from a student.  

An experiment using colour based from psychology 

An experiment using colour based from psychology 

Wednesday 14 November 2012

Looking at Micro-Biology

Algae and Human Cells

I've been interested in human and plant cells from the beginning because the structures are similar but obviously different in certain ways. I enjoy the construction of these spaces and how they can reflect upon different constraints e.g sculpture. Here follows a few of my favorite examples from  John. D. Dodge's 'The Fine Structure of Algal Cells'








Tissues and Organs: A Text-Atlas Of Scanning Electron Microscopy 

Epithelial sheet of the intestines. 
The digestive system - Colon.
Nervous Tissue - Eye Lens.

Cell Sketches

Here is a few drawings based upon the images above. I had a lot of fun doing this because of the fluidity of the spaces. I used ink because of the sharp but also softness that can be created through its use. 


Gems at the Manchester Museum


Gems at the Manchester Museum

I decided to go to the Gemology exhibition at the Manchester Museum to see a variety of crystals and minerals which I could refer to in the different stages of my work. These are a selection of the photographs taken:













Tuesday 13 November 2012

My Practice


My Practice

These are my completed crystal system drawings.
 I made different combinations of my designs for colouring-in sheets. I wanted to see what the psychology is between colour, shape and if it had any relation to the Minerals they were depicting.
Feel free to print these designs and colour them for yourself!







Introducing New Mediums - Vinyl 

I found a collection of vinyl tiles from a closing-down kitchen shop in Manchester. After deliberation I decided to create some 'mosaic' type constructions, basing them from the 7 crystal systems already devised. I tried to pick a colour theme with each or base them from an existing mineral with the same system. These are the results: 
Using found plastic floor tiles, I was able to create these elaborate collages depicting one of the crystal systems (shown at top of post). 



I decided not to fix this one permanently because I really liked the pattern loose. Also with this particular design I can apply it to different spaces, growing out of cracks and joints. 

I decided not to fix this one permanently because I really liked the pattern loose. 

Introducing A New Medium - Carpet 

Along with the collection of Vinyl, I got some carpet tiles too. Using them in a slightly different way by applying them in a composition to the wall. This first changes the way that we view carpet (usually on the floor) and secondly trying to mimic certain Gems. For example, Diamond and Amethyst. I intend on crystallising these tiles to move it further away from the everyday. 

Using carpet tiles I tried to explore shape, colour and texture. Here is a carpet representation of a Diamond. 

Using carpet tiles I tried to explore shape, colour and texture. Here is a carpet representation of an Amethyst crystal.
Glass Sketches
Experimenting with glass strips and ink drawings to create distorted images.

Using pieces of glass to distort pen drawings. Can I re-create minerals through drawing alone?

Laying glass pieces over a microscope image of an Algae cell. 

Crystal Drawings

Framed series of crystal systems.
I have decided to show the series of Crystal Systems because they are such a large part of my work. 

Twinning drawing - Graphite on tracing paper.
I experimented with the idea of 'Twinning', where a crystal replicates itself at an axis. Here I did this with tracing paper to create the twin. I think it worked well but to the people that have seen it, they see other things within the lines which was not my intention originally.  I based the drawing from an existing Copper Sulphate crystal.
Ink drawing of Crystal Formation.

Beginning of Copper Sulphate Growth Drawing.
I've been tracking the growth of a Copper Sulphate seed crystal through the method of drawing. Firstly by drawing the original seed, then day by day adding the growth changes on the tracing paper. I add blue oil paint to create the characteristic colour of the Copper Sulphate. 

Series of Growth Drawings, plotting the growth of a Copper Sulphate  crystal - Oil Paint , Ink on Tracing Paper.

Series of Growth Drawings, plotting the growth of a Copper Sulphate  crystal - Oil Paint , Ink on Tracing Paper.

Series of Growth Drawings, plotting the growth of a Copper Sulphate  crystal - Oil Paint , Ink on Tracing Paper. 
This is a series of crystallized paint raw-shanks. I created my own liquid which has ingredients such as: Copper Sulphate (Evaporated and rice form), borax powder and blue ink. Left to ferment to create a thick solution which will continuously grow and oxidize, thus changing the look of the drawing. I wanted them to be 'Twinning' orientated so I made the reverse pattern. I think this is very effective because of the marine blue/green paint. The graph paper reflects the molecular structure of the crystal. 
Crystallized Paint Raw-shank  Blottings
An experiment using spray-paint and ink to create luminescent crystal growths on paper. They remind me of the stalagmites in the Crystal caves of Bermuda and some of the sets from the 1962 film 'Journey to the Center of the Earth'
Ink and Spray Paint Experiment
Crystal Stencil Experiment
Using a stencil made from my colouring-in sheets applied to light stained paper.
Crystallised Paint Experiment
One of the first Crystal Mapping experiments I have done with crystallized paint. I thought it worked quite well as a flat piece. This one has a sculptural piece of Copper Sulphate soaked paper. 
Crystal Mapping Triptych - Ink
This is my Crystal Mapping series which originates from an existing crystal then grows through my subconscious information of crystals. I like how the drawing grows on its own like an organic crystal would.

Crystallised Painting - Copper Sulphate Powder, Borax Powder and Ink.
Using splattered Crystallized paint I have been able to create a growth drawing upon the marks previously made by the paint. I think this method of working is really effective because of the amalgamation of paint and ink.
Copper Sulphate Painting - Spray-paint and Lacquer 
I used templates to create this growth habit painting, made from spray-paint and lacquer. I think the sprayed effect helps create the mystical appeal of crystals and the invisible joins to which they radiate from. Its size plays on the actual size of crystals and how they are so small in comparison to stone and marble. The lacquer creates a glaze over the paint differentiated it from the white background. 
Borax Crystallisation of Felt Crystal Map (Progress)
I wanted to try crystallize materials such as paper and fabric so I tried to crystallize on of my stitched felt crystal mapping pieces. It didn't turn out so well because the stitching was lost to the chemicals and the overgrowth of Borax. I tried reversing this by using Copper Sulphate, which made it turn this rusty marine green which looks pretty but by using this chemical it will erode with time and turn to dust. 

Borax Crystallisation of Felt Crystal Map (Finished)

Completed Vinyl Mosaics  (Ready to Show)

I changed my mosaics by dying the grout which seemed to separate the colours more than I wanted. Now they look more like paintings and less arts & crafts. 







Crystallized Carpet Compositions

I crystallized the carpet tiles which sometimes is effective depending on the pile and thickness of the tile. By using Borax, its takes on the colour of the carpet which looks interesting but has a habit of turning white.  I have tried to make them look more glossy by applying varnish to the dried crystals.