Unit X week 3: Materiality.

Creating a 'manifesto' and thinking more into the conceptual approach we would like to take as artists/designers, before getting our hands on any type of material to work with was an unusual approach to beginning a project as a textiles student. However, this feels now like a really beneficial way to work, due to the concept or manifesto allowing you to be much more selective in choosing materials and also allows you to see the materials in a different way. 

Working in a group of similar interests from the starting point 'creating sensations' we created our own manifesto, which will fuel and drive this unit x project and that we presented to the rest of the group. We received great feedback, as our poster explaining the 3 main points of our manifesto was clear and concise, focussing on our singular theme.

Group Manifesto.

 In terms of materials, we managed to obtain a wide range of exciting and interesting materials to experiment with, ranging from silk printing screens to neon yellow lanyards.

 

 

I'm really excited to begin the experimentation and planning of our outcome, and to reflect our strong manifesto points through these processes, with strong intentions to create something that will create a sensation that will affect all the five senses, in a fun and intriguing way. Over the Easter break, we will be thinking about and researching ways in which we could use the materials, and what we want to use them to produce. I will also be developing and sketch booking with drawings and research responding to our concept and materials. This will allow us to work very efficiently and productively when we return. 

Unit X week 2: Reinterpret, Reinvent, Remake: Manifesto's.

 Susie Macmurray 'shell'

In this weeks session we have been focused on the use of manifesto's within the art and design world, and how these can be of great importance to certain practitioners within their practice. 

By researching and printing 3-4 manifestos that, as a group, we found interesting and inspirational and explaining the reasons we chose the particular ones that we chose to the rest of the group was an educating experience.

A particular manifesto that I found interesting was artist Susie MacMurrays. I love the way that Macmurrays practice is based on this strong engagement with materials and the body, focusing on stimulating both physical and cultural associations with the viewers that encounter the pieces. It is the evoking of a feeling, emotion, memory or association from the viewer that led me to chose this particular manifesto, as I am really interested in this concept of creating a sensory experience, or creating a situation for the viewer within my own practice which could be seen as an interactive approach to working. 

This interest in the sensory experience and the creation of a situation means that I have been put into another group within the Reinterpret, Reinvent, Remake class, who also have an interest in this conceptual approach. We will be working on a group manifesto which we will present in an interesting way in next weeks workshop. It will be a great experience to listen to other peoples ideas an interpretations of this ideology, and work together to create something based on this.

Unit X Launch- Reinterpret, Reinvent, Reimagine:Rooftops

Today's launch and 'un-conference' broadened our minds to consider what key themes within art and design inspires and engages ourselves as creative practitioners.

Discussions  within mixed groups of students from different areas within the school of art was a great opportunity to hear a range of opinions on the topic of design.

Personally, the key themes and ideas which I think are things which are inspirational and important to me as a textile student are:

'Creating sensations'

The thought of holding the power to create an experience and situation for a person is a very exciting one, especially when imagining the possibility's in terms of being able to evoke feelings or emotions through something. This is an idea which I find really exciting and interesting, and something I would love to explore within my practice.

&

'Future proofing' 

Planning for and expecting the unknown,  thinking about future materials and themes of importance in the future. This is such an important skill to have and be able to respond too.