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That Is Our Secret, Now Go To Sleep (2008)
Latest box. Really pleased with this one. I like the narrative behind it as well as how it looks visually.
Its made from a small printers tray, and uses some sections from one of the 1930’s love letters from Peggy to Ron that I photographed and wrote about on the blog a while back. The story then is Peggy’s imaginary story, although it certainly has echoes of my own sensibilities and fears which is hinted at in the use of sections of shadowed self portraits in certain windows.
Detail of poem, letter, and found objects.
The other dominant use of text is a beautifully sad verse about death which has been taken from an old Robert Browning book of poetry (the book itself dated 1927);
“So, hush, – I will give you this leaf to keep:
See, I shut it inside the sweet cold hand!
There, that is our secret: go to sleep!
You will wake, and remember, and understand.”
Robert Browning 1812-1889
Detail of old sheet music, text, and photo.
The narrative behind the text and object fragments is then both romantically joyful and sorrowful. Ranging from the lightness of the mirrored and coloured glass to the darker and more obscured windows. Some left entirely empty, representing the lost moments that were planned but never realised together.
The whole piece is behind glass giving it the feel of an artifact in a museum and the associations that brings of attempting to stop time and preserve memories.
left handed drawing exercise
Attended a life drawing/painting workshop at the very beautiful Compton Verney on Saturday. Dean Melbourne led the class which was influenced by Oskar Kokoschka who is currently being exhibited there.
First time at life drawing, first time standing infront of an eisel infact, so was a tad on the terrified side before actually starting but had a fantastic day! Couldn’t believe how exhausting it was doing something like that all day (particularly the exploratory drawing exercises he had us doing in the first half of the day), I guess its a lot of mental concentration.
Great fun, definitely something I’d like to try again sometime!
afternoon activity
Check out the new website!
Have a look at this video. It’s an ongoing photography time-lapse project by Noah Kalina, who takes a photograph of himself everyday. He started when 19 and he is now 27, project is ongoing and is planned to be continued until he dies. The video is part one- January 11th 2000 – July 31st 2006.
http://everyday.noahkalina.com/
The background changes over time, a record of where he was, not just what he looked like. Clothing, dressed up, dressed down gives a fleeting context but never enough information to give any real knowledge about the meaning of this individual’s life. I think its that aspect that I find so profound about the video. In six minutes I have watched a man travel through six years of his life and yet know nothing about him. How have those years impacted him, what has he done, felt, experienced? What event was he attending when he wore the black tie outfit I glimpsed in one shot?
It speaks to me about the painfully fleeting nature of our lives and highlights the issue of loneliness and the importance of disclosure and honest intimacy in relationships because if our memories and moments are not shared, passed on in some way, they are painfully temporary. I always found the line from Bladerunner tragically poignant when the replicant Roy is about to die, he says all the amazing things he has seen will now be gone, “all these moments will be lost in time like tears in rain”
My Thoughts Of You - Chantal 2008
Here are a couple of self portraits taken recently. What I liked about the one above is the contrast of the different textures – the brush marks of the whitewashed walls, the irregular waves and indentations of the bedding. I really like those things as a backdrop and it made me think more about the role subtle things in a background can lend to a narrative and feeling about a picture, as opposed to just the main subject. In the second picture I prefer the figure – mainly because of the placing of the lighting contrast on the face I think – but the background textures are much less interesting. Given me something to think about for next time which is good!
Waiting For The Morning - Chantal 2008
Another go at painting. Still found it great fun to play with (and calmed me down after what had been a bit of a crazy day in my head!) but don’t really like what I ended up with much. So figured this would be a good one to get some learning tips off the back off as I definitely won’t get offended by any criticism. Honestly – have had a couple of go’s off my own bat now and would love a couple of pointers from people with experience. Come on Dean I know you are good for a bit, and while you are at it you can send me those exercises you mentioned a while back!
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