Sound

 

                                                                     

Because of this focus on the hand and the sound one creates, I began to think of ways I could integrate this into my work. I decided to record the sounds in my surrounding space which would include both my places of residence; my lodgings in Limerick City and my home in Co. Cork.

Because I live in a busy, populated area of Limerick I presumed that there would be a great difference in the sound recordings and wanted to find a way of illustrating this contrast. I decided that I would record in each area and then translate the recordings into music notation. Afterwards I would associate different notes with different colours through the use of a chart similar to that of Kandinsky, consequently creating colourful illustrations.

 

Limerick City.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

County Cork.

 

 

 

 

 

Hands

 

                                                       
Therefore it is obvious that the hand is central to our movement in space, i.e how we sense our space.

It can also be central to the creation of the "atmosphere" within a space. For example, the hand is used in the creation of sound, a medium renound for evoking emotion. Here is an example of me playing the piano and through the movement of my hand, one can hear sound;

 

 

                      

Stelarc

While exploring the movement of the body I began to explore with interest the movement of the muscles in the hand, especially as it is central to how we function on a daily bass, hence how we move through our space.

One artist who I found very interesting in relation to this topic was the Australian performance artist, Stelarc. He has been extending his body through performances since the late 1960's. His performances include attaching a "third hand" to his body, extending himself into a virtual space with a virtual hand. Stelarc's artistic strategy resolves around the idea of "enhanceing the body" both in a physical and technical manner. Through Stelarcs work we reach a second level of existence where the body becomes the object for physical and technical experiments in order to discover its limitations. According to Stelarc, "technology is what defines the meaning of being human, it's part of being human. Especially living in the information age, thje body is biologically inadequate."

Antony Gormley

Through contextual research I found one artist particularly influential; This artist was Antony Gormley, winner of the Turner Prize, 1994. Much of his work depicts the human figure and his materials often employ the enironment in which they should be percieved through.
 
I found this a very interesting concept and one I could in time incorporate within my work. Here are some pieces which I enjoyed;



Clutch VI




Stand III




Settlement I




Feeling Material VIII




View I

Movement In Space.

                                   Movement In Space.

 

Developing my concept of "Movement In Space" I now plan on dealing with the physical human body, exploring the way in which it moves through space along with the movement in the space itself. To do this I intend on researching muscles and the atonomy of the body, exhibiting them through diferent shapes and patterns influenced by organic and mechanical matter. I will also experiment with recreating deconstructed images and 3D sketches of the human form, showcasing them with different materials and through different compositions.
I then intend on observing this muscular movement in a varity of different spaces, such as a dark small room in contrast to a bright open one, portraying the different ways one reacts within certain spaces.


Throughout the past week I drew some 2D images of the human figure in an abstract manner, experimenting with the above idea:

The first image consists of sharp,pointed angles and shapes and has a mechanical/robotic look.

     The second image is of a more naturalistic,organic matter due to the spherical patterns.

However, both these images were constructed on the same page, but on different scales; This is one such way in which I plan on exploring the contrasting movements of the human body in relation to it's surrounding space. By displaying them in such a manner the contrasts can be easily seen.

 

 

 

 

 

Other Images I created throughout the week;

 

 

To Sense My Space.

                                     To Sense My Space.

As is stated in the brief, "Space is Area by Volume between two defined limits". Therefore it is movement which allows us to experiance space on a physical level, entertwined with our five senses; touch, taste, sight, sound and smell. Hence I intend on exploring and developing this physical movement through shapes and designs which represent our body's actions to create images and work which analyze ones "sense of space".


At the begining of the week I had many ideas on where to go with this brief ranging from the physical brain, and dealing with the inner space to portraying ones perception of space and the discrepancies between "geometricaly available space" and "experianced space". However it was the idea of hodological space which excited me the most. Exploring and conveying the space around us through our movements and pathways.


As is quoted in "Human Space" by O.F.Bollow "The possibilities of movement unfold like a system of lines of force, which extend from within but everywhere they come up against limits". Therefore I also plan on exploring the limits we encounter through movement while also testing the boundaries which restrain us, hence defining our space.


However, as previously stated this was not part of my original concept. On my first reading of the brief I was much inclined to deal with the brain, putting all the emphasis on one's inner space and the use senses-

 

 

 

Through this I began to explore the eye and began to deveop my idea so that I was dealing with one's perception of space in which there was a discrepancy between geometrically available space and experianced space-

However this led me to question the way we visualise our space and how that in turn influences our movements in space. Therefore I intend on portraying the space we experiance through physical movement with shapes and designs taking into account the reasons we choose to take the paths we do.

Shapes and designs influenced by movement.