Even though the exhibition last year was geared towards ceramics I thought I would enter an idea which might push my research and direction in a particular way and force a bit more depth of enquiry.
This is some of the information from the proposal....
I have referenced the writings of Thomas Browne within my own research and his examination of the practice of hydriotaphia (roman or Saxon urn Burials) within the Norfolk landscape. What intrigues me is not the ‘burial’ but the use of a ceramic vessel which is buried and perhaps never seen again. The notion that this object is present in its absence in a known location haunts the mind. For this proposal I intend to produce eight vessels as four pairs (Compass directions; but also refer to the points on the cross and the plan of a church) I would attempt to source clay from the indicated direction directly from the land to form a slip. One of each pair would be placed within an area of the church indicating that direction and one buried somewhere along that direction line. ( eg Sheringham, Hunstanton, Cley beach and Wymondham) This process may also allude to archaeology and the value of objects.
Blue dots represent the vessels in the church and buried in location, the church diagram is generic.
I was actually really pleased with the outcome of the work, as in it was as I had imagined it to be. I was really interested in the way the work dominated the space, although in a corner. The audio rose gradually so that people started to raise their voices until the sound shut off with a dramatic cut . I was intrigued by observing their reactions. Obviously the audio was intentionally invasive and was intended to mirror the rise and fall of industrial noise with the decline and closure of industries. The light was fully intended to represent the heat of the firing process and echo the heat and light of industrial facilities but I am acutely aware that they could be considered cliched . Sculpture work is an area I am finding my feet in and in some respects I suppose it would be like sticking a photo of a train on Claude Monet's, 'La Gare Saint-Lazare' and adding a steam engine noise in the background. However, I think there was integrity in the decisions I made.
Had an interesting tutorial with Craig today and covered a lot of similar ground. However, he did recommend I look at Donald Judd in terms of a published paper regarding units of measurement and the body as the basis for an industrial standard.