Project Proposal 1

Individualism or Mechanism?
My aims for this project are to create a video installation that explores the transformation of individuality within the conglomerate. I am also interested in how the notion of individualism prevails within a system? Key words and interests lie in: transformation, interconnectivity, natural cycles, juxtaposition, cityscapes and reflections. This work would consist of a digital video projection installation. I would like to experiment making a 2d video collage which would then be projected onto a 3d sculptural form.

My methodology for this project will be studio practice interlaced with the following:

• Visual research 
• Contextual research 
• Subject research 
• Technique research
• Reflective research


Visual research would consist of taking photographs/video clips and drawing.

Contextual research would be to look at key artists that relate to my project which so far are Bill Viola and Amy Stacey Curtis. Both of these artists explore issues relating to interconnectivity, natural cycles, individuality, movement and repetition. Also Brian Eno’s installation called ‘77 Million Paintings’ reflects notions of individuality and transformation within a collective. I will continue to expand upon contextual research throughout the course and contact the most prominent artist or artists that relates to my work, and ask if I can interview them. I will also visit exhibitions, galleries and museums.

Subject research would be to explore certain aspects of sociology by looking at individuality and societal structures and how they may reflect within the natural environment. This would also contain looking at some of the cultural and technological developments in contemporary society and how this affects the individual. I also will be exploring earth sciences by looking at repetitively, transformations, systems and natural cycles.

Technique research would include exploring new techniques within editing software, use of lighting effects and using new software and programmes.

Reflective research would consist of all the relevant information gathered to write my paper, which would then lead on to writing the reflective paper. This would contain all the information gathered from all the research sections, along with reflection on blog entries to create my artwork for the final project. 

History and rational of my work

History and rationale of my work:

I’ve always been fascinated by the visual effect of movement whether it be from human made mechanisms or movement within our natural environment. Due to this interest I simultaneously began to explore kinetics by attempting to make remote controlled sculptures and learn more about the cultural and technological developments in contemporary society. This subject gradually developed and led onto investigating aspects of the Posthuman, which was the basis for my BA dissertation:

http://www.kayjohns.net/dissertation.pdf

I found this topic to be both fascinating and scary at the same time, so my studio work began to be centred on the contradictions I was feeling. After I finished my dissertation, my research led into other areas within biotechnology, where I researched genetically modified organisms and artificial life forms. Again my studio work was based on contradictions. I wanted viewers to feel what I was feeling. My final work for my degree show consisted of an indoor kinetic installation titled: Twitter (based on the idea of genetically modified crops). An outside kinetic installation titled: Xenogenic, and a video exploring the evolution of Xenogenic.

Twitter consisted of 96 kinetic, plant-like geometric coloured straws, growing out of compost on pink paper plates.

Whilst the happy humorous visual element may strike you first. The sounds of the ticking clock mechanisms used to move the plants along with the uniform positioning of the plates in rows, gives a rather unnerving impression. The lighting in this installation was extremely important to enhance the moving shadows which also laid the path for the sinister undercurrents to emerge.

The installation Xenogenic, was outside in the college grounds, it consisted of three circles cut into the ground. This also was based on the idea of a genetically modified crop experiment, only instead of growing crops I was growing artificial manufactured life forms:

The video of Xenogenic explored the evolution of the artificial life forms:

I was and still am really happy with the outcome of both installations and the video. They all expressed the emotions that I wanted to at the time, but on reflection, it has left me asking more questions. For instance the orderly rows of plates with the different sized geometric kinetic straws, all moving at slightly different angles, also expresses a form of individuality, along with Xenogenic and the evolution of artificial life forms. This was not my focus of expression at the time, but it’s definitely an important aspect of this work, which I now feel compelled to explore further in my MA.