ARTISTS TALKING

# 9 [22 April 2008]

Serious feeling of impending doom... why do we have our degree show so much earlier than the whole country?!?!

Went to see the curator talk at the DCA today for the new exhibition that opened later that night, Ellipsis, and there was a free screening of L'Eclisse by Michelangelo Antonioni. It was wonderful, such evocative cinematography, and it was in Italian, mmm...

But one must emerge back into the real world and into the workshop. Have made 3 wooden tripods to create platforms for the pinhole cameras. They look rather swell, if a bit squint, but still need to level the feet!

Only 2 weeks to go until assessment, I still have to finish the first 10m scroll, and have 2 to go (there were originally 4 but there isn't time, seems a shame to scrifice due to time, but what can i do, better for something complete- looking that half arsed!)

At least the philosophy has begun again as i've started to edit and organise things into something 'coherent'! But nothing like the artwork. Apparently, according the noticeboard, this is a week to be finishing work, and installing next week, be out of your studio by Friday!!!! 

# 8 [19 April 2008]

It's Saturday... I'm going in.... My mission is to complete one of my 10 metre scrolls, as rumour has it, I may be getting kicked out my studio on monday even though I won't get into my space until Friday! Ya twats! Where am i suppose to make the other 3 10m scrolls now?! Two weeks to go before assessment and subsequently, the degree show follows soon after... Anyone else nervous and nausous?

 Better get some reading done too, onto Derrida and Lyotard now. You guys!

# 7 [17 April 2008]

aww, ya bugger! just realised that the photographic paper I won on ebay is fibre based and not resin coated, ya daftie! Well, i'll just have to teach myself what to do with it much like everything else that i've been doing with pinhole photography.

Passed a benchmark today, with 2 cameras almost fully assembled and light-tight! I'm not sure who's more excited, myself or John! mind you, the 4th camera (or Kamera) is really his baby, not mine. It's way too cool and funtionable! 

Still way behind handprinting my scroll. i think I have to rethink how I'm doing this, the whole idea of taking images 'performing' is taking far too long. I may just have to scrap it and put it in the theoretical sketchbook...

Have rediscovered '3rd Rock from the Sun', brilliant! 

# 6 [15 April 2008]

http://fineart.dundee.ac.uk/degreeshow.jsp

 It's toooo soooooonnnnn.....!!!!!!

Nice poster though, nice and spring like.

# 5 [15 April 2008]

Golly gosh, there isn't much time left now! I'm squeezing in this reflection time in the lunchhour before heading back down to the workshop. John has become my new best friend! Everyday he comes up with another idea or another twist to make my life easier! Whata guy!

They are looking sooper dooper, and i'm getting to grips with all these power tools, but all this sanding is giving me one very muscular right arm, and my left arm is becoming increasingly docile... time to switch!

 As for these scrolls I had the dumbfounded impression I could do in the time available.... it's taken 4 hours (in total-i'm timing myself) to do 1.5metres (approx) of 40 mertres!!! Why am I going so slow!? At this rate, they won't be done in time for assessment... you do the maths!

By the way, do remember Tab clear, the soft drink? Apparently just saying that, I'm showing my age!

# 4 [9 April 2008]

Right, I don't know why my picture is still up as latest updated blog, as that is not true (well maybe at this EXACT MOMENT) but pfft!

Making progress in the workshop. Not only did I get in for 9am (thanks to the boyfriend pulling the duvet away from me after i'd hit snooze for the 4th time...) but we have almost completed KAMERA II (sad I know but I love it!) I also used three different power tools/equipment, we have 10 fingers, 10 toes- a triumphant day!

But it is never pleasant to sneeze when one is wearing a dust mask. Rebound...

# 3 [8 April 2008]

Let's start positive... have made 1 pinhole camera out of oak. It is a thing of beauty to behold, whether it will work is another question and involves a little bit of maths and according to my brain training, is my least strong skill. Also when I say have made, not I but we (thank you John, a batch of chocolate brownies will make their way to you shortly!) However, it is one of 4 (suppose to be 5 but there is the pressing of time).

 Now for the negative... IT'S THE 8TH OF APRIL!!! in one months time, everything, and I mean everything must be finished and ready to be presented for assessment! Fot those who did not know, we are under the evil constraints of the university calander and that is why we have our degree show and assessments so much earlier (we lose a whole 4 weeks due to semesterisation... why that could make that extra pinhole camera, some prints and notebooks possible!)

 But nooooooo, have one month left. Not sure how to handle this pressure. At least there is progress, even if it's slow. Have begun on making the scrolls that will actually be presented in the space for assessment and thank god I have finally finished those 6 frames (which 1 is only decent, hurrah for filler!)

 Right I am finally out of the studio and away home to work on these philosophy notebooks, of which are going nowhere and mean nothing.

 But I shall end on a positive, at the DCA there will be an exhibition including the work of one my favourite artists, whose work is a rarity to see, Francesca Woodman. A MUST SEE!!!!

# 2 [4 April 2008]

Just realised that haven't actually explained at all what I am doing. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure either. Have hit that momnet where you question everything you're doing- does it make sense? Is it any good? What the hell is it?!

My problem is that so much of my philosophy is intwined in my work, that search for truth and questions, never any answers. All this process and no ending in sight, no work is ever resolved. Is that a way to practice art? Well, that's what I do...

My work focuses on the Other, afigural, especially that which is trapped/ co-exists within me. To explain, I'm chinese. Or at least, that's what I look like. But if you hadn't seen my name or my face, you would think I'm an average Scottish lassie. How can two people exist in one body and can they ever exist together at the same time?  Maybe, if the dominant person is reduced to a point where they are no revelant in an Event, where their acts can open a fissure to allow the emergence of the Other.

Like I said, a lot of philosophy, no answers... 

# 1 [3 April 2008]

6 frames made, nothing to go in them....