Asta Groting sculpture;1987-2008

I was so intrigued when i went to Grotings exibition at The Henry Moore institute, every piece had me hooked with intrigue as to its meaning and material.

'Groting emerged in the mid 1980s and garned immediate acclaim for her take on the human body and te human condition'.

One of the first pieces you stumble upon is 'Ja Uad Nein (yes and no); consisting of painted iron on a mechanical drive, Groting expressed that she wanted to create a work about manipulating and being maipulated. Moving like a slow carousel, without saying the experiance of yes and no, Groting expresses this in movement for the audience to see this action of response. I think its really interesting how Groting takes on te challenge in choosing a or feeling and seeing how she can portray and represent it. Every single pieces of Grotings work in this exhibition explores materials ruthlessly. Using a wide selection of consistances within texture, form and structure within creating the piece. Challenging the material and representing it in a specific cotext that aids to the work.

'I choose any material whic touches me, which I like and which I want to work with , or I might be curious to work with and which is able to express what I want to say. I often want to work with new materials; I try to remain playful'

(Asta Groting)

Not only has the use of varied materials occupied Grotings work, but a constant theme remains throughout her work; the human presence. The human body has provided Groting with huge inspiration, but not just in physical form but through mind and spirit. Evoking form and function of the human body. Reflecting its movement but too its thoughts and feelings. Her most current piece; 'the space between two people having sex' takes on an aspect that Groting has recently stated to engage with; aspects enduring the existence of:earth, food, fire and sex. This was too my favourite pieces, I think the most intriguing factor was the space that Groting had captured; the idea of the space between 'two people having sex' presents such intrigue. That point in which two people are so close, creating a relationship with movement and static, and the conversation between space and this moment of action. Groting presents then in a spread inside our structure, which thus takes on a new shape, form and movement to its initial point in time. Investigating the inner space and expression of physical intimacy.

Interim

Leeds College of art design presents past students new work; where are they now and presenting their progression through their new work. Including our very own Tom Cookson from Fine Art.
'All of the artists taking part completed their foundation course at Leeds College of Art & Design and have been selected following visits to a wide range of degree shows by staff teaching on the fine art area of the course. The exhibition celebrates relationships formed whilst studying on the foundation course and reconnects artists, now based in other cities, with each other, with Leeds and with the College. Interim is an annual exhibition open to all current second year BA Fine Art students at British art schools who have previously completed their foundation course at Leeds College of Art & Design.'It was really interesting to see the selection of year two artwork from students on too a Fine Art course. I was really intrigued by both Tom Cooksons and Adam Townsend’s & Arran Sands art. It was really nice to see Toms work set in this context along with other students from all very different institutes and was amazed at the complexity and too history of context behind his work. I too really enjoyed the collaboration of Townend and Sands work. There work reflected some interesting factors, and too how there structural piece communicates to the audience, as there piece was situated in the middle of the spiralling stars it both offered communication from two different visual points. I think also I was engaged as there is a direct link to the environment and space which are subject matters that I really like to engage with however I don’t always practice this within my own art practice.

Perhaps noting, perhaps something( Making the ivisible apparent)

This exhibition, presented at Leeds Met university Gallery presented different artists who approach space and how the audience relates to that space and juxtaposes an argument. Cornelia Parkers, Neither from Nor Towards, consists of the brocks of an eroding house, hanging on wires in suspended animation. Its original from lost, the bricks that once were the foundations of a home; now displayed in a new structure. A structure lost in time and space. For me I enjoyed parts of this work, I think the idea of the history and once was being display in such way the almost captures it in a freeze is quite poetic and lyrical to the audience. However what left me with doubts was the structure that held the piece together was so apparent in appearance of a framed metal structure holding all the wires, I felt this took part of the essence away of the subjects. There were artists such as Rachel Whitread, who is famously known for her negative space, but who work struck me most was that’s of Chris Wrights. Within a blackout space he had arranged spotlights in a round formation to all focus on one point. Entitled' This is the Place, the spotlights shine intensely on an empty space. There is nothing in this space, so why as Wright put it in the spot light, or was their something; a memory, an event, the prediction of something. Once again theis argument of space brings to light and what it is saying to the audience. Playing with the audiences mind as to what a space is for, how is occupied, and who by, why have they made the audience come into this space, or present such a space in this way?

Interesting websites from my elective

I chose to do my elective in recycking and sustainability, and through it have come across some truly eye opening features, so I throught this would be a good oppotunity to share websites with you for further interest. I hope to up date so people can return to find out more:
http://www.greenmuseum.org/c/aen/Issues/ukeles.php
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/oceans/rainbow-worrier-20080926
http://www.reusablebags.com/facts.php?id=2

For your canvas needs:
http://www.whaleys-bradford.ltd.uk/


Recycle, reuse, reinvent, re-think
http://www.freecycle.org/

12th contemporary Artists' book fair

The 12th International contemporary Artists book fair held at Leeds university. I have a keen interest in artists books and I myself have produced a few throughout my practice, therefore it was a must to go to the leeds artists book fair. With an array of different mediums, materials and concepts the main hall within Leeds Universty collated tables filled with artists and students own creations through the stucture of the artist book. It was really fascinating to see the different institutes and organisations that each had their own display, varying from students from local colleges; such as our very own LCA and Leeds university, established print and book makers and self employed individual artists. There were some very eyecatching and innovative that stood out for me, whereby they had gone beyond the traditional form and concept of the book. Exploring material and form turning somewhat of a traditional literary subject into a sculpture form in itself. Although there were a number of established printers and bookmakers I was drawn more to the independant and student artists new and pinoneering way of exploiting material and form. It was these too who were more keen to talk about there work, in which it showed a real passion for there joy of making It was a really motivating exhibition of a subject such as the book, put into its own context of importance and its novel way, but still keeping that certain attachment and belonging to a personal item such as a book/diary

In their chairs, paintings by Richard Baker

Richard Baker;In their chairs, exhibited at Leeds college of Art & Design,

"His work has evolved through an unhealthy obsession with eBay, specifically with the section devoted to modernist furniture. This unlikely source of Bakers inspiration row upon row of Earnes and Panton Chairs, often tired, neglected and badly photographed are his coveted objects. Unable to own them, he has managed to acquire them through other means- by a considered process of layering, scraping re-drawing and glazing he carefully renders these objects his own"

The exhibition of paintings occupied the walls along a narrow corridor, his exporation of obsession to specific subjects is echoed within the setting of the space and furthermore the size of his paintins expresses an almost secretive hobbie. Aswell the process of layering and re drawing reinforces the action of obsession and envolvement devoted to these objects.