Visual art exhibitions and events with a platform for critical writing
By: Rebecca Woodcock
The study revolves around ‘survival'.
Surviving as a result of using art as a language,
to make room to move, to find space and healing.
The process follows the grief after a personal loss;
dealing with post traumatic stress and
caring for a loved one with cancer.
Their distress and the treatments,
the operations and procedures;
their suffering and yours,
a painful death, the Funeral
and the nightmares that follow.
My degree is finished 2:1 not bad for a dyslexic, but the real question is yet to be answered! "Did I learn anything? and Can I still continue to be prolific in my work?" without the constant academic urgency, deadlines and commitment; or will i amount to nothing other than a 'dabbler in paint on a wet sunday afternoon'!.We will see................
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rebecca woodcock, 'hiddencanvas1', acrylic and ink on canvas, august 2007.
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rebecca woodcock, 'christopher woodcockcanvas3', acrylic and ink on canvas, august 2007.
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rebecca woodcock, 'drivingcanvas4', acrylic and ink on canvas, august 2007.
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rebecca woodcock, 'caringcanvas5', acrylic and ink on canvas, august 2007.
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rebecca woodcock, 'Gonecanvas9', acrylic and ink on canvas, september 2007.
# 3 [6 December 2007]
From the drawings canvases where produced keeping clear communication with the viewer by:
• Exploring size of canvas to compound feelings, mood and emotion
• Using colour to enhance understanding and clarity
• Bold minimal lines outline the seriousness of the situation
• Building and working into layers to uncover dissolving memories
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rebecca Woodcock, 'hidden101', ink and paper, july 2007.
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rebecca Woodcock, 'hidden103', ink and paper, july 2007.
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rebecca Woodcock, 'hidden104', ink and paper, july 2007.
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rebecca woodcock, 'reading115', ink and paper, july 2007.
# 2 [30 November 2007]
A further 100 A3 and A1 ink on paper drawings where made influenced by the first 100 drawings.
Further and deeper issues where explored around major operations, the process of caring and the stages of death. To say more than words:
Altering the thickness of lineCommunicating honestly, specifically and directly to teh viewerPositioning the viewer as the third personUsing space to communicateDrawing from memory
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rebecca woodcock, 'hiding', ink, pencil crayon and paper, may 2007.
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rebecca Woodcock, 'Dieing', Ink and paper, May 2007.
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rebecca Woodcock, 'dieing ', ink and paper, may 2007.
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rebecca woodcock, 'emotions', pencil, ink and paper, may 2007.
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rebecca woodcock, 'remember', ink and paper, may 2007.
# 1 [29 November 2007]
The process:
In the beginning ink on paper drawings were made surrounding the illness, loss and trauma. The drawings were divided in to two piles: ones that did not work and ones that did. The pictures that work, say more than words:
Communicating exact moments
communicating honestly, specifically and directly to the viewer
drawing only from memory.