Observations from the IKON visit

From my visit to the IKON gallery, I recorded further evidence of interesting and inspiring objects and artwork through observation drawings. All work at on exhibition at the IKON during the time of my visit was Roger Hiorn's work.

During my visit, I found the lights that had been selected to light the stairways interesting because of their unusual and unique form created on the sphere. I had unintended took this video, by accidentally believing I was taking a photograph. After realising I stopped the video, and played it. I found that this light was affecting the camera by creating a glitch of some sort. I found this inspiring because I could have only witnessed this glitch through my camera. I feel that representing the world through video and photography could be a successful route to undertake for challenging the ordinary. I would be using a ordinary and common medium to challenge the ordinary. 

To further understand the lights used, I produced observations using biro pen and pencil. I cant understand my fascination towards the lights, however, thinking back on the visit I believe it was my aim of discovering objects that challenged the ordinary, I believe that this object meets that aim, because from my personal experiences It was unusual. 

A lift that produced a sound based on the direction of the lift moving was located next to the stairs. I had used the lift to get down from the top floor. As I went down, a sound starting at a low pitch slowly turned into a high pitched sound. 

My first observation was of the one of the pieces that made up, "A Retrospective View of the Pathway". This observation was drew near the doorway that I had entered through to get to this piece. I had believed that the artist had intended on created this view as I entered, so I felt the need to take evidence of it. 

This observation captured both a large amount of the installation as well as the unique shapes formed by plastic and metal items being combined together.

After producing the previous observation that captured the whole installation, I felt the requirement to focus on individual pieces that made up this installation. Next to the entrance I found some brochures about future exhibitions and events occurring at the gallery. I came across this image of an elderly man, that appeared very similar to the object hanging down from the ceiling, it had foam on top and face of some sorts created by dried up foam, so I decided to draw a close up observation of the piece on top of the brochure image. 

I decided to not to draw the foam on top, as I had the idea of creating the foam using materials that challenged the ordinary. Within this piece after the visit, I decided to use cut up pieces from a unused micro-mesh showering object, because it had the flexibility and form similar to the foam. However, this material was challenging to stick on to the observation drawing using PVA, I could have used metal wire or blue tack instead, so that I would have had more control. 

Upon completing the previous observation drawing, I felt interested in creating this focus on the foam I had experienced at my visit. I believe this was created by the fact that the artist, Roger Hiorns combined the moving and the non-moving in one piece. I further captured this feeling through the contrast in materials used to capture the part of the installation. I decided to create the foam using cotton-wool, because it has a similar soft texture the foam would have been expected to possess. 

I had intentionally left pages for photography I had collected from the visit. However, once I printed and placed them inside this sketchbook, I felt that they could be developed with observations. From my close-up photography I produced this oil pastel drawing that was created using an usual colour selection, for this vehicle part. I would have chosen dark grey, black and white oil pastel if I hadn't intended on it to be unusual, because of the industrial feeling of these colours, would match the aesthetics of the item. 

I found this observation surprisingly interesting in the nature of the photography remaining semi-visible through the oil pastel. Hence, the composition of the mediums work together in harmony. 

Producing a observation drawing of this piece, allowed myself to have a deeper insight into the shape of the object. I was interested in finding out what made the artist decided that this was the object for this piece. From my point of view, I found that the complex nature of the wires, pipes and valves reminded me of a human body lying across the floor. However, I understand that this wasn't the reason behind this object, from my gallery information booklet. 

I produced this observation on top of fragmented images of a car and car part I found in a newspaper. I found these relevant to this artist piece, because it further emphasised the transport related nature. 

During my visit at the IKON, I was inspired by Hiorns to also use unusual items to work with. At the gallery, I decided to use the train ticket, because I felt like it was a interesting surface to draw a observation on to. However, It made controlling the biro pen hard. 

Across the room from the Jet engine, lay this machine that was puzzling at first sight, however, with closer inspection I made out that it was a X-Ray machine placed on its side. This was truly interesting, because its a rare sight to find this expensive equipment not placed upwards or in a hospital. I feel that this was the true reason I couldn't make out what it was.