In order to sum up my project in a shorter post, here is my 550 word rationale to contextualise my work:
The control we have as individuals is something that concerns me more as I grow older, due to me becoming aware of my own and others arbitrary positions in society. Growing up exposed me to the reality of my own choices, my own freedom and my own significance as an individual. "Man is condemned to be free"1 ; both a blessing and a curse. As a young person in society, what is my function? What will it be in 10 years? Can I control any of this?
Provoked by these anxieties, I pushed my ideas through multiple mediums to test the boundaries of control, chaos and freedom. Inspired by Zen philosophy and meditation, I have experimented ways of altering control in my work. This creates a work subject to chance/ result of chance. By removing control, I submit myself to allowing things to happen in their own way, the way of the 'tao', meaning path or way. 'Tao' in Taoism, is not the name of a thing, but supposedly the underlying natural order of the universe. To remove the ego, the anticipation and pressure that I feel as an artist to create 'good work' exposes my subconscious mind, a raw art and a pure experience. Through a process of setting up experiments in order to create work, I have explored the scale of control in accordance to Eastern philosophies.
The first means of relinquishing control was by using instruction. Moved by Yoko Ono's poetical instructions, I set up my own experiment using one rule. To separate myself from the work, I handed control over to my yoga class. They would draw the symbol of an 'enso' after the meditation; a zen calligraphy symbol signifying an enlightened mind. My intention was to create a pure and raw response from people having no idea of the meaning behind the work: complete, yet controlled freedom. Through this, I raised the issues of authorship, connection and relationship. I developed a stop motion film, which is a skill I'd like to develop further.
Influenced by the ‘enso’, I became transfixed with the focal point being a circle. There was something about a sphere, or a circle communicated a wholeness: it could not be extended. "The circle has no beginning and no ending…denoting unity and eternity, totality and infinity"2 . From this, I created a series of monoprints using different sized circles and amounts of ink. The muted backgrounds emulated Rothko's spiritual yet ominous paintings. A minimalist approach, void of figuratism created a hypnotic yet meditative view of the circle and its symbolism.
Inspired by Rothko’s chapel, I desired to create my own spiritual, meditative experience. Using dyes, I recreated the monoprinted circles through a method of tie dyeing. The fabric created something fluid and changing. Applying disperse dyes allowed chance to take hold of the end result and create something unique. Using a large sheet of chiffon, I created a tapestry-like sheet, the focal point being the central circle. The results were not entirely what I'd anticipated, but I found a freedom in working with sculpture and film.
I feel this is just the beginning of a wider investigation of control and experience inspired by philosophy. I intend to develop my use of film, sound and sculpture to reach a mature and thorough representation of my ideas.
1) SARTRE, J. (2018). BEING AND NOTHINGNESS. [S.l.]: ROUTLEDGE.
2)Helfand, J. (2006). Reinventing the Wheel. New york: Princeton architectural Press, p.page 13
The control we have as individuals is something that concerns me more as I grow older, due to me becoming aware of my own and others arbitrary positions in society. Growing up exposed me to the reality of my own choices, my own freedom and my own significance as an individual. "Man is condemned to be free"1 ; both a blessing and a curse. As a young person in society, what is my function? What will it be in 10 years? Can I control any of this?
Provoked by these anxieties, I pushed my ideas through multiple mediums to test the boundaries of control, chaos and freedom. Inspired by Zen philosophy and meditation, I have experimented ways of altering control in my work. This creates a work subject to chance/ result of chance. By removing control, I submit myself to allowing things to happen in their own way, the way of the 'tao', meaning path or way. 'Tao' in Taoism, is not the name of a thing, but supposedly the underlying natural order of the universe. To remove the ego, the anticipation and pressure that I feel as an artist to create 'good work' exposes my subconscious mind, a raw art and a pure experience. Through a process of setting up experiments in order to create work, I have explored the scale of control in accordance to Eastern philosophies.
The first means of relinquishing control was by using instruction. Moved by Yoko Ono's poetical instructions, I set up my own experiment using one rule. To separate myself from the work, I handed control over to my yoga class. They would draw the symbol of an 'enso' after the meditation; a zen calligraphy symbol signifying an enlightened mind. My intention was to create a pure and raw response from people having no idea of the meaning behind the work: complete, yet controlled freedom. Through this, I raised the issues of authorship, connection and relationship. I developed a stop motion film, which is a skill I'd like to develop further.
Influenced by the ‘enso’, I became transfixed with the focal point being a circle. There was something about a sphere, or a circle communicated a wholeness: it could not be extended. "The circle has no beginning and no ending…denoting unity and eternity, totality and infinity"2 . From this, I created a series of monoprints using different sized circles and amounts of ink. The muted backgrounds emulated Rothko's spiritual yet ominous paintings. A minimalist approach, void of figuratism created a hypnotic yet meditative view of the circle and its symbolism.
Inspired by Rothko’s chapel, I desired to create my own spiritual, meditative experience. Using dyes, I recreated the monoprinted circles through a method of tie dyeing. The fabric created something fluid and changing. Applying disperse dyes allowed chance to take hold of the end result and create something unique. Using a large sheet of chiffon, I created a tapestry-like sheet, the focal point being the central circle. The results were not entirely what I'd anticipated, but I found a freedom in working with sculpture and film.
I feel this is just the beginning of a wider investigation of control and experience inspired by philosophy. I intend to develop my use of film, sound and sculpture to reach a mature and thorough representation of my ideas.
1) SARTRE, J. (2018). BEING AND NOTHINGNESS. [S.l.]: ROUTLEDGE.
2)Helfand, J. (2006). Reinventing the Wheel. New york: Princeton architectural Press, p.page 13
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