Trip to Saatchi Gallery (12.01.10)

Richard Wilson - 20:50 (1987)
used sump oil and steel, dimensions variable

Peter Coffin - Untitled (Spiral Staircase) 2007

Aluminium and Steel

Jedediah Caesar - Body Stock (2007)
Urethane resin, polyester resin, pigment, aluminium, titanium,
wood, and mixed media. 29 panels (28 installed, 1 leaning)

Peter coffin - Untitled (unfinished hand) 2006
Wood, wire mesh and fittings

Matt Johnson - The Pianist (after Robert J.Lang) 2005

Blue tarp, paper, stainless steel

Trip to Edinburgh 27th November

KARLA BLACK: SCULPTURES with paintings by Bet Low (1924-2007)
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Inverleith House


This was the first show we went to see by Karla Black. I quite liked the huge mound of earth which was in the first room which had be dusted with patches of coloured powder. The soil's heavinness was quite a contrast to some of the other pieces which seemed very fragile, made from paper or sometimes a thin coating of coloured chalk powder. They somehow seemed to avoid any classification which consequently, but not wholly, didn't really evoke any reaction to these pieces.


I did whowever like the piece Acceptance Changes Nothing (below) which conjured up thoughts of glacial mountains which had been deprived of their peak - the top looked like it had been broken off and dusted with pink powder.

This show at the Fruitmarket Gallery covered a wide range of methods and themes and reminded me how important it is to use drawing as a learning process when you are exploring ideas for your work.

Body as site of Cultural Representation

Year 1 Term 2/2

Peter Bevan

"Peter" "Helen's Twin" "Jinny" 2005 Terracotta

Last year I attended a lecture given by Peter Bevan, a glasgow based sculptor, on the them of 'Body as site of cultural representaion'. Here are some of the notes which I took down:

• An idea of cultural representaion can be gained by comparing experiences fom travelling abroad (India) with the identitiy here in the Wester world.
• The hollow space in his vase-like pieces draws the viewers' attention to the surface which is perforated with holes and makes you aware of the inside cavity.
• Vase: a container for 'collecting' experiences (cultural identity).
• Go to India to make work rather than just looking (contributing to culture and society rather than being a tourist).
  
• Two identical casts: Second as detail in different context (history and future)

Looking on his website I came accros a piece of work titled "The body as a place: the site of consciousness." which is a project that he has been working on over the period 1989-1997 between visits to India.

Between Visits to India: 1989-1997

“The body is a place: the site of consciousness”

I first visited India in 1989 to study temple architecture and sculpture, mainly in the south. Along the way I recorded thoughts and observations on a 25 metre “scroll diary”, which came to provide ideas and inspiration for a considerable number of works on return to Scotland.

"Scroll Diary" (Sanchi, India) 1989
Watercolour/Ink/Paper25 meters long

"Scroll Diary" (Badami, India) 1989

Watercolour/Ink/Paper25 meters long

The work explores different ways of signifying the presence of a human body, through reductive forms, the inherent expressiveness of materials and architectural metaphor.

"Drawings for Father 1996 Ink/Paper

In 1996 this work was collated in the form of a catalogue and photographic documentation, which was exhibited during my Artist’s residency at the MS University of Baroda in Gujarat. The following year the sculpture itself was formed into an exhibition entitled, “The body as a place: the site of consciousness”, at the Glasgow School of Art.

"Father" 1992 Wood/Bronze

"Gazebo" 1995 Wood/Ceramic
Temporary installation, Kildrummy Castle, Scotland

"Incenser" Ceramic 1990