A Manchester Art Gallery Experience

MANCHESTER ART GALLERY EXPERIENCE - A NARRATIVE

The city's atmosphere was warm, inviting. It fought against the cold, harsh winds that made the girl's brown curls dance in the air. She began to jog up the Gallery's large concrete steps, leaving the world full of greed, power and noise behind her. Casting her eyes on the brown wooden door that stood before her, she stopped abruptly. Photographs! She thought, turning on her heels and jogging back down the steps. Her brows scrunched together as she held out her phone, ignoring the groups of wavering eyes that scrutinised the odd girl before them. 

Angles, compositions, focal points. She murmured.

  

Angle after angle, her shots piled up in her camera roll, an array of perspectives began to collect on her phone; the steps, the columns, the foyer. She was motivated, determined to collect as much research as she could on her short visit to the Gallery. Everything was a beneficial experience, from the paintings on the walls, to the benches on the floor. Her mind was a sponge; soaking in her surroundings and possible findings she may discover at the Gallery. What might that entail?

                                                        

The loud bustling background soon ceased as she entered the Gallery; enveloped in peace and silence. With phone in hand, all that could be heard were the flashes of her camera, that were capturing every positioned perspective shot she was currently observing. The same stone columns greeted the girl on the inside, natural form sculptures accompanying them. Regal colours of gold decorated the Gallery, an aura of tradition and life painted the walls that carried the precious pieces of art. The subtle lighting added to the atmosphere, blending into the coloured environment. On numerous walls, patterns upon patterns were scattered across the room, full of detail; the decals were small but significant. Her surroundings becoming somewhat overwhelming, she grimaced. Her eyes raked over the many minute attractions within the walls rapidly, before moving on to explore another section of the Gallery.

Windows of glass and metal poles consumed her surroundings, standing tall and reflective. The open spaces created a sense of warmth and ease. There was no claustrophobic energy, the walls did not begin to inch closer. Nor did her breath become short and shallow, her brain did not race with a multitude of thoughts.

Everything was still. Tranquil. She was able to enjoy the many wonders and mini attractions a girl like her possibly could, walking around aimlessly, recording the sights before her. Many of the public were attracted to the Gallery, but the glass doors and large rooms did well to quell her fears of being around masses of people at once. No triggers, no attacks, no anxiety.

         

   

                                                                               

REFLECTION [7]

Finding yet another connection within the Speech Act's exhibiton to link with my theme of identity. I began to experiment independently. Using my own experiences to recreate a more abstract and geometric approach to my work, and practical experimentation. I used digital editing to create this, wanting to experiment using techniques that I am familiar with. I felt confident using the software to edit, however, I struggling with finding a middle ground to use to actually inspire what I wanted to create. Thinking of colours, expression and meaning I attempted to construct a sample that included darker colours. I wanted to allow the viewer to recieve a specific emotion or collection of thoughts that allow them to dissect why it is composed the way it is, and why the colours are there.

I do not think that geometric pattern is my strong suit, and so I do not believe I would be using it to inspire anymore of my future practical work. Although I did not feel comfortable during this experimentation, I did learn to look at work and create work in a more abstract sense, rather than approaching practical work more literally. Using this knowlege, I can allow myself to see art in more than one perspective during my practical work, and hopefully allowing more connections and meaning to be interpreted throughout. If I was given this task again, I would simply allow myself to base the composition and colour off an experience that then influenced my outcome/s.

2018 Art Exhibition

After my Final Major Project, we all took part in collating our own individual pieces of art and combined it to form a unique exhibition. Showcasing my best pieces of work, I included my poetry, soundtracks and digital media that was combined with photography and charcoal drawings.

 I believe my nine-piece collection was very powerful, as it instantly drew a reaction from the viewer, possibly overwhelmed by the range of individual photographs that showcased different emotions and feelings.

 I am extremely proud of my poetry, for not only being able to have the confidence to share such personal journies with the public, but enabling them to somewhat grasp the extention of being in such a deep, emotional space and be willing to give your all; your control, and allow somebody else to experience those experiences and feelings with you.

Giving the viewers and the public the control of my thoughts, they can now manipulate that into whatever perspective they created when they read my poetry, and formed imagery of their own doing.

 This audio is compiled with all my triggers that relate to my anxiety. It was an interesting take on such a complex thing. Sometimes, verbally describing anxiety may not always allow the other person to understand, so i used a sense that affects us all - sound, and expressed it in that form.

This second audio is the first of three that relate to my Autism. This specific audio also relates to triggers, but was so much more detailed and specific. It was interesting to create this, as I became somewhat more self-aware, and I learned a lot about not only Austism, but myself as well.

Within this audio, it is recording all the sounds around me, from the louder, more noticable sounds to the more minute, quieter sounds that my hypersensitivty picked up on. 

This last track is the last out of the three that are Autism-related. I wanted to create a contrast between triggering sounds and soothing sounds that relate to me and my understanding of my own personal Autism, as it differs for each individual. 

Time-based Art - Poems

I decided to incorporate my love for creative writing and poetry and intertwine that with my artwork. As I write these poems, I transform myself into a character, playing the part and diving into a new mindset which help me create such poems.

•

her fingers shake
as the blood traced her lips,
rocking back and forth
as the cold air whips at her hips,
she was intoxicated
~insane

i loved you.
i loved you when your words
stained the walls of my mind
i loved you when your hand prints
camouflaged my body
i loved you when your hands
clamped tightly, effortlessly,
around my throat as i submitted to you
~bittersweet love

she was his canvas,
and he was ready to create a masterpiece
he painted her in his favourite colours,
purple, green, blue.
but red, oh how he adored red
his heart raced as her body shook violently
beautiful hues of green and purple stained her limbs,
 watching red splatter across his canvas,
slowly dripping down
he was entranced at her broken state,
she was his masterpiece
~masterpiece

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Time-based Art - Inspired poems and Martyn Blundel

INSPIRED POEMS

Martyn Blundel was someone who I have looked at, and been inspired by. I have recreated a series of his poems, and in turn written my own original ones. I had really enjoyed creating my own poems inspired by Blundel, as i can express myself, my thoughts and feelings in various ways. I like to morph into another person - a character, and create a vision that is organic and rare. Creating imagery is very important in how i construct my poems, as i feel that helps connect to the words.

“I can remember not”

I can remember not feeling lost
I can remember not being in love
I can remember not living
I can remember not knowing how the sun’s rays caress my skin
 as i relish beneath it
I can remember not the violent thrashing of my mind
as I run away from my thoughts
I can remember not the feeling of being drowned in my anxiety
as it pulls me under
I can remember not
I can remember

“Supposed to be” 

It’s supposed to be here
It’s supposed to be there
It’s supposed to be somewhere
It’s supposed to be clear
It’s supposed to be quick
It’s supposed to be painless
It’s supposed to be bloody
It’s supposed to be undeniable
It’s supposed to be an exit
It’s supposed to be a fresh start
It’s supposed to be ethereal
It’s supposed to end
It’s supposed to be over
It’s supposed to be

“Like”

Like a whisper
Like a force keeping me away
Like my erratic breathing
Like the shards of glass
that impale me as i run to you
Like the clock that snickers at me
as i run out of time
Like my blood that looks around us
as i pour my heart out to you
Like my eyes as they roll back
Like my last breath
Like my life

“Fish named after other things”

Clownfish
Brownfish
Ciaofish
Browfish
Howfish
Nowfish
Highfish
Lowfish
Blowfish
Doughfish
Gofish
Showfish
Hotlineblingfish
GENDERISASOCIALCONSTRUCTFISH