Final Piece - Photograph

Framing

The work is a hopeful preservation of what can or can't happen, so by framing the work (with a perspex cover) it will 'hopefully' create a metaphor for this. In terms of colour and shape, I wanted a display technique that wouldn't take away from the piece yet aid in the minimal, conceptual nature of it.

Final piece with Text

By producing the piece in a smaller font you get the sense that it's more personal and intimate, perhaps with a larger font it could have the possibility to be either too overwhelming and uninviting. Though I wanted to create something which was personal which is why the predictions are seperate and kept to their own place, yet from a far they are grouped which relates to my underpinning concepts of creating a community and a sense of being.

Photos of the work in progress

I started by mapping out the space and distance between each circle as well as the border. With the help of maths I managed to work out a measurement in which the circles created a reptitious presence. The circles alone were also measured acturatley with each one having a diametre of 8.5cm. I felt that incorporating a mathmatical strategy was crucial to achieving the repitious, endless being which will very much so contrast with added text. Since I had limited space and limited gold, I had no choice but to lessen the amount of predictions and circles than what I first wanted, though it wasn't a main worry for me as it was never set in stone.

The thought of repition

From the previous post I began contemplating as to how I should present the gold leaf. My first thoughts were similar to the old design, yet it would be on a smaller scale and in a square, linear fashion. Once the leaf arrived I realised as to the size (or the lack of it) and carried on to deviate my thoughts to find new ways of displaying them. As the work follows the concept of repetition and an endless cycle I came up with the idea of conveying the gold leaf in a circular order. The work will be produced with mathematical equations which will help produce and maintain an 'endless' concept.

Format: Instead of Paper

From tutorials and my own thoughts it became clear that I didn't have a strong enough reason as to why I would be using a4 matte paper. From a documentary on the BBC, Gold Leaf was used to create a medium for a piece of art. I thought this would be a complete turn around as well as giving it a definitive reason. Since the Gold leaf is so delicate it reflects that of life itself (which is expressed in the predictions), so tangible yet so dainty. The gold will be 24ct which in a more literal sense, represents the many monetary issues as well as producing a metaphor of how life is pure and exquisite. Another subtle factor is the reflective properties of the gold, although not being 100% reflective as say a mirror, it holds a less literal sense, in the hopes that the audience will reflect on themselves, in addition to the work.

Screen Printing Problems, moving to Letterpress

From different opinions, the logistics of creating 100 sheets of silkscreens would be impossible to achieve in the given time. So with past thoughts of the letterpress technique I went ahead and purchased an alphabet of 36pt (helvetica style) letterpress blocks. The technique would be used differently than conventional letterpress, as I would hand press each letter as it's more likely to produce a chance where something could go 'wrong'.

Research: Artists that use text in their work: Gerry Smith

I also viewed Gerry Smith, who calls himself a 'text based artist'. In which most of his works incorporate text but to a minimal standard. Gerry's 'Don't mess with me' holds that bold statement touch which is the manipulated with the minimal black font on white background or his 'Brunelleschi's Singularity' which is of a similar form yet incorporates a much smaller font which is seemingly overwhelmed with the huge negative space around it. His 'Instruction' pieces which "display a mundane literalism" reminded me Sol leWitts instructional pieces and how he devised a way in which anyone could replicate his art. It got me thinking on how my piece could well seem as instructions to some.