I completed the installation for my PhD transfer process on Thursday, and have documented it here. It was an eye-opener to see the work involved by the stage@leeds technicians in setting up the projection and lighting, and they deserve the credit for the quality of the theatrical presentation in the space.
“It is not pictures as objects of perception, that can teach us about perceiving; rather, it is making pictures – that is, the skilful construction of pictures – that can illuminate experience, or rather the making or enacting of experience.” Alva Noë
This installation explores processes of embodied cognition through painting. It aims to understand creative practice as an agential, corporeal activity performed by a body moving through its environment. Through gesture, materiality and the use of tools, visual knowledge emerges in a process of artistic labour. Painting, in this laborious process, is thinking – “in that instant when his vision becomes gesture, when, in Cézanne’s words, he ‘thinks in painting’”. Merleau-Ponty
Details: Alec Clegg studio, stage@leeds, School of Performance and Cultural Industries. Thursday 9th May, 11-3. Drop in, no need to book. Free Entry.
I’m interested to know what my paintings are telling you. When you look at the painting below, what do you notice? What do you feel? What do you think?
Oil and collage on Paper, 8.5″x6″
I’ve been hunting around the web for information on sourcing artists’ materials ethically. It is extremely difficult to find any information. From what I’ve managed to find, here is what I could do to mitigate potential impacts (environmental, social, and animal welfare). I’ll update this post as I find new information. Continue reading
An exhibition held at Metro Gallery in Melbourne – Climate Change: The Wonder and the Dread. “Their creative process was filmed over several months as part of a long term documentary by award winning film maker Alan Woodruff and Deakin University Professor, Ann McCulloch.”
“We are investigating audience response to the art works (and whether the art persuades in a manner not otherwise achieved through intellectual means), and the processes involved in the art making itself.
We think insights communicated in images and metaphor might contribute to the development and implementation of environmental policy by communicating in ways that have not been achieved by science communication.”
From article by The Conversation.
Related project Artistic Representations and Perceptions of Climate Change
Landscape painter, showing how glaciers have changed over time. See The Scientist and Treehugger.com articles.
I think what I really love about painting is the way the picture emerges before my eyes. I’m constantly looking and asking what am I liking about the way this is developing? When is the right time to stop? It is like magic, and I think it is the reason I keep coming back to painting.
This is a work in progress, but I like some quality about it. I think I will do some quick works on paper along these lines and see what happens.
I will be holding my first solo exhibition in The Meeting Room Gallery at South Square from 2nd – 28th July 2011.
Normal opening hours are 12-3pm Tues-Sun, but please check with the gallery before you visit – 01274 834747
I work from family photographs, asking questions about photography and its role in capturing the ‘truth’ of our past. I’m curious as to why we take snapshots, particularly of children, and use painting to visually explore this. I work intuitively, often leaving out detail. I’m interested in how this leaves ambiguity for the viewer to project their own families, memories and stories onto the paintings. For this exhibition I have created small panels, perhaps reminiscent of the tradition of painted miniatures which preceded photography. The images, developed from mundane family snapshots, explore questions of surveillance, child development, and identity.
I meant to post this a while back. Here is some of my work on display in Water Street Gallery, Todmorden. It will soon be moving out of the gallery for a very special show of Mike Holcroft’s new work.
