Skip to main content

Whitworth Threads Unit x

Unit X allows students from interdisciplinary areas within the School of Art to work together as a team on a project, exploring and experimenting shared ideas. The group comprises of designers covering 3D design (specialising in glass making), weave and printed textiles. The aim to bring a personal contribution of creativity through a shared body of work, to create and develop a range of products, relevant for purchase within the Whitworth shop. The gallery houses thousands of art works and artefacts spanning many centuries and supports developing artists and designers. 

RESEARCH

During the groups first meeting it was decided we would complete research visits to The Manchester and Whitworth Art Galleries.


The pilot project allowed us to explore our individual skills and how they combined as a whole to achieve a strong outcome. It was beneficial for the group to bond, understanding each others strengths and creativity. My personal contribution was to draw motifs and designs onto vinyl transfer paper which was placed onto the glass. As a group we created a glass bowl, two coasters and a place mat using the sand blasting technique. We worked productively as a group bringing different ideas and skill sets, which combined effectively to produce strong results. Feedback from this mini project was positive, however areas were identified for improvement. It was suggested that the place mat, although aesthetically effective was not functional due to the metal weave design. However, overall as a group we were pleased with our first collaboration and felt motivated to continue with our research and subsequent designs.  
Collaborative art work has been prevalent in the art world for many decades. Artists now realise that it can be mutually beneficial to artists to join forces in the creation of new designs. Whilst researching I was introduced to many examples of collaborations. Each artist can extensively influence each others work, having their own distinctive designs, which when combined, produces a new concept of art work. Famous collaborations include Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol and Jean -Michel Basquiat and Pablo Picasso and Gjori Mili.




Olympic Rings, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat / Source: Gagosian 


Basquiat was a young 20 year old graffiti artist who in the 1980's collaborated with famous pop artist Andy Warhol. He thought Warhol's fame would help him break into the art world. 


     Picablo Picasso painting with light, Photograph by Gjon Mili / Source: Visual News


Mili the photographer captured this image of Picasso creating patterns with a flash of light as his paint and using the air as his canvas. The same effect can be captured on bonfire night using sparklers to create patterns against the back drop of the dark sky. 

For art collaboration to be successful there must be a mutual respect and agreement with equal exposure. We intend to follow this principle in our workings as a group. 

On our first visit to the Whitworth we were struck with the external architecture of the building and it's location within the urban setting. There are however gardens and parklands that surround this museum, and it's large picture windows allow this outside space full of nature, colour and plants to enter into the building and compliment the works of art and artefacts. Inspired by this show of natural surroundings we decided as a group that the relationship between the gallery and its gardens would be our theme. This seemed to fit perfectly to the gallery's green and sustainable ethos. 

The gallery is home to a mixture of artists with a broad spectrum of design work. Traditional paintings and abstract art hang side by side with glass cases containing artefacts from all over the world. Many of the paintings continue the theme of nature. Below are some photographs from inside and outside which I have used to inspire and influence my body of work. 

                                              Casts on display made from real plants




















Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nature

Continuing with my research and the impact that colour has on our world, I decided to put down my thoughts once again on mind maps. I find collating and presenting my ideas in this way gives a clear indication of where my ideas and thought processes are heading. My first mind map introduces the  Psychology of colour, how this is seen and what each colour symbolises. This is referring back to a previously mentioned Chinese five colour system. Colour to us all can be perceived in varying ways. Light as we have already found can dramatically change the aspects of different colours. Yellow tones are thought to create warmth and energy, white is thought of as pure and innocent, red promotes love, excitement but also anger. Interestingly green is thought to promote a calming and relaxing feel. This is in line with the Chinese colour system where the colour green was thought to promote harmony. Colours have also been known to affect peoples moods and how they view their surroundings. Gree...
Post a Comment
Read more

INVESTIGATIONS

The aim for this project is to create a body of work suitable for sale and display purposes using different skills from specialist areas. Our project will link the various products through the same use of theme and colour palette. Taking inspiration from a photograph on a leaflet advertising the art gallery we decided to follow this colour palette. The colours contained within the photograph are mainly varying shades of purple, violet and orange. We decided to incorporate shades of green into the colour palette to continue the theme of nature and connecting the inside with the outside. I love the way you can see the reflection of the gardens and trees through the glass windows, allowing the on looker to almost see the gardens inside the buildings. The photograph was obviously taken during late Autumn or Winter as the trees have lost their leaves. A photograph of The Whitworth Art Gal...
Post a Comment
Read more

Reflection on the Live brief

Reflecting on the live brief as a whole, I have found this unit interesting and enjoyable. At the beginning it seemed a little daunting as this was the first time I have done a live brief. Achieving the intricate geometric designs using the spirograph was fulfilling and almost therapeutic. I think my designs are a true reflection of the many different patterns that have been used to create geometric art. Geometric patterns have long been used in design, on fabrics, ceramics, rugs and in later years wallpaper. Through this unit I feel my skills as a designer and in time management have improved. I have managed to create art work with a strong personal identity. This has been achieved through strong research, visual design and achievement of personal goals relevant to the unit. As usual inspiration has been taken from previous designs of artists that have specialised in geometric pattern. This has proved invaluable as I have progressed through this unit.
Post a Comment
Read more