15.04.20

Despite being very happy with my self portraits of me falling and knowing what I want to do next with it, I still wanted to carry on testing different ways I can do self portraits since we are coming to the end of this project, so I want to ensure that I am following through with the best outcome that sums up everything I've been doing. I am continuing with the idea of self portraits because I like the abstract decisions that you can do with them, and the fact that I can be the photographer and the subject not only makes me feel like I'm playing an active role in the artwork, but also links to my love for performance. Alongside this, I have always enjoyed taking a microscopic route with my work and self portraits are the best way to reflect an internal, invasive and intimate perspective.

I did the exact same process of producing as I did with the sequence of me falling, where I placed the I-phone on my camera tripod and filmed me moving about. Initially, I tried to copy what I first sketched out in my sketchbook of me moving against the walls to then create a black and white stop animation which felt claustrophobic and desperate to physically escape. However, when it came to actually executing, the obstacle of the space around me was giving off a claustrophobic vibe, but instead just an awkward vibe where it looked like I didn't really know what I was doing, despite having this plan. So, I scrapped this idea, similar to the poster design I was doing you have to try things to realise that it isn't working out to then move on. My alternative option was to cut out the complexity of what I was doing and simply record myself moving around the space fluidly but really close to the camera so that I don't get too caught up in what I am doing in relation to how it will look. When this was completed, I then screen-shotted moments again that were blurry or felt distant from the present moment and then played with these in Photoshop.

Even though this route is a complete diversion to the theme of Rave culture and how it links to escapism, number one: it had to be done in order to pursue a creative project whilst in isolation and number two: regardless of the diversion, the work I did do relating to the dance scene still has influenced the work I am doing now. For example, when editing my self-portraits in Photoshop, the approach I took to editing the posters I made previously has seeped into the process I am doing now through the use of being experimental with distortion, colour and layering. The use of distortion and playing around with colour was also influenced by two quotes I read in the book Escape Attempts: "Our lives are run through with fantasies: they invade our work place, our kitchen table, our marriage bed." (pg.90) and "the mind is the last and only domain of privacy, an internal space" (pg.89) My intention with the use of distortion and colour, based off of these quotes, were to portray the inner parts of ourselves, the darker and more fantasy-like identity that is only kept within us yet still intrudes during our mundane and daily routines. The distortion and colours created a warped view of the portraits which would usually just appear ordinary and it transforms the pieces into something more peculiar and out-of-reality. Overall, the portraits now start to question the relationship between escapism, intrusive thoughts and how these effect the daily life.

Next, I will pitch my ideas, that I will do to hopefully finalise my project within the next ten days, to Lucy on the tutorial video call tomorrow. I aim to do something relating to a publication and a short video accompanied with sound design since I am lucky enough to be isolating somewhere with loads of sound equipment.

PART 3 (FINAL PROJECT)

PART 3 (FINAL PROJECT)

CONTEXTUAL PRACTICE

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