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Proposal for $tudent response - Coming Up for AIR 2021 - to coincide with COP26 in Glasgow November 2021

 

Coming UP for AIR Proposal. 2021 - COP26 

 https://ukcop26.org/ 


Working Title: Ghost in the Machine. 2021.

Please see attached visual files.

This work has come from our recent collage project – working with found imagery and experimenting with the direct photocopying of plants.

Combining the natural world elements alongside the image of the lone man ‘at work’ the pressure applied to the white flower through the photocopier echoed by the white overall worn by the protagonist.

This photocopying process formed strange shadows which recalled the imagery associated with the ghostly or ephemeral - notions of disappearance of species. This was combined with the symbol of ‘Extinction Rebellion’

‘Ghost in the Machine’ is the British philosopher Gilbert Ryle’s description of Rene Descartes mind body dualism. Ryle introduced the phrase in ‘The Concept of the Mind’ [1946] to highlight the view of Descartes and others that mental and physical activity occur simultaneously but separately.

It is interesting to relate this idea not only to the process of collage but to the cultural shift in thinking that is needed if we are to achieve lower emissions – where it is instinctive rather than unusual to live in a carbon neutral way.

The images are reminiscent of the immediate ‘paste-up’ aesthetic associated with protest action posters; thinking of Shepard Fairey [Obey Giant] Kennard/Phillips and the graphic qualities of Barbara Kruger.

The elements of nature, man the struggle and labour of protest coming together within the vector of a mask.  It is referencing notions of time, pressure, labour and the importance of individual contributions coming together to make a powerful whole. 

I have digitised and manipulated the collages. The choice of showing them on a mask is to highlight the increasing need for mask wearing in many countries around the world [not just Covid related] 

Mask as Membrane.

Mask as Vector. 

 

Dimensions and Medium.

I propose to have one or more masks printed. These would then be photographed at high resolution and the enlarged digitised flattened out products directly collaged onto the wall outside the University. It would be interesting to see three masks in different orientations along the wall as an invitation to come in and engage.

 Hoping this work is selected for the $tudent response show 'Coming UP for AIR' 

 





















could be interesting

A Fragile Transient Structure

Notes from my recent talk at The Whipple Museum giving some context and background to 'Strange Chimera' the work was shown as part of Cambridge University's Science Festival 2017. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello - and thank you for coming along today to see the work and hear me talk about it. I would like to thank the Whipple Museum - for allowing me to firstly access the collection and then to show the work in this fantastic space - also thanks to the library for their kind permission and helpful guidance regarding texts to reference in relation to the project. Maquettes for Strange Chimera in the Whipple Museum I would like to read my current artist statement to give some context to the kind of work I make and the process I employ. ARTist Statement My practice is expressed through the composition of constructed hybrid objects, working within the mediums of sculp...

Moving the Work On - Facing Extinction

Recently I had work accepted as part of a student response to the 'Facing Extinction' 2014 show held at the University for the Creative Arts in Surrey, U.K. The show was a recreation of the iconic piece created by Gustav Metzger, 'Mass Media'. The works by students were on display for the duration of the conference which Gustav was in attendance for.  Installation view of the work 'Mass Media' 2014 The opportunity to hear Gustav speak, and also the privilege of being able to present the work I created to him in person was a great experience. The show was essentially about the challenges faced on a global level, regarding man made issues that result in a negative impact on the planet and humanity as a whole. My piece 'For The Sake Of The Species' was selected to be shown. The work was constructed as a comment on the increasing medical interventions needed to aid conception. Utilising  the medium of photography to present the work - like...

Notes for LAB Winchester School of Art - MA Contemporary Curation

Concept: Starting Point  Through harvesting inaudible sounds present in surrounding structures of the inhabited institution we will create and open up dialogues - the revealing of these invisible structure systems will be discussed in a broader sense. focus on social, political and cultural discourse  ie; current chasms within politics the polarization of ideologies the empty space  that was once the 'middle ground' Method: The removed observer see previous post 'objectives' Listening PROJECT wearable sculpture performative sound harvest OUt COme t.b.c. divergent thinking method

'as all our sorries fell to the ground'

Review of the show at ASPEX Gallery Video/Poem by Alastair Cook Installation Views  'For the Sake of the Species' 2015

Moving the Work on - Facing Extinction

Testing things out in the studio - ' Memory Cone' http://julienmaire.ideenshop.net/docs/memory_cone.pdf See blog entry 12th May.

Elevator Music

  Short sketch of a digital work in development, it is interesting to observe the static sculptural work transformed through the lens. Real vs Facsimile Reflecting on the work of artist Paul Sermon who uses accessible 'meta-spaces' through which co-experiences can be explored. my practice is interested in the photographic image [or portrait] as an analogue image of self as a mirrored reflection as opposed to three D generated images. Mental co-existence in space, extension of the body through technology, phenomenology of the experience. These short 'sketch' clips are created on my phone when travelling or in waiting rooms hence the reference to 'elevator music' - suspended between one place and the next - a waiting place. 

Projecting 2021

 New short film 'Relational Relatable' created during 2020 Pandemic - now projecting live at CAS studio artists summer showcase.   PRESS RELEASE   Relational Relatable – Short Film Julia Keenan Created during the Global Pandemic 2020/21   Intention: the film is contextualised as an existential fable, with a melancholic base note. Alone in an incomprehensible world, despite the apocalypse looming, finding some care in the absurd. We are in isolation together, there is some comfort to be gleaned from that.   The Narrative moves through a series of phases each with its own mood and protagonists. The shorter introduction setting the scene – the main body of content and finally the conclusion. The experience evolves through real and imagined scenarios, combining physical drawings with digital elements, dream like narrative and Disneyesque conclusion.   The hope was to create something which considers the myriad of emotions experienced global...