Month: October 2021

THEME

The initial inspiration that directed my research was George Perec’s gentle observations of everyday objects and places in his book Species of Spaces and Other Pieces. Perec looks at common spaces, observing them in new ways, to really investigate what is around us, rather than assuming what we’ve already seen before.

The description and manipulation of his mundane subjects elevates their essence into something special. This approach led me to select my window as the theme to explore for my investigation. By selecting an everyday site, I connected my work with Perec’s and took on his challenge of seeing past my initial observations.

PROCESS

Agnès Varda’s film, The Gleaners and I (2000), discovers that the possibilities for the smallest objects and spaces are endless. Gleaning is portrayed as an art form and depicted as an act of collecting items abandoned by a wasteful society, that still holds the potential to be utilised (ibid.). Varda tries to “see” beyond the usual perceptions of an object and examine them in unexpected ways.

Adopting a similar method of observation, I photographed various parts of the window at different times of the day; the textures, the mechanical parts, and its usage. I also spent a lot of time observing the window at night, noticing the details of the reflections on the window. The inside layers the outside, in an almost kaleidoscopic way, making the site feel very unfamiliar. I wanted to explore this unfamiliarity to investigate my site further.

FORM

Metahaven’s Uncorporate Identity talks about “design’s ability to visualize” (Metahaven, 2010, p. 6) not only what is apparent, but also what is not there or that goes unnoticed. My initial observations of the window were obvious and offered no new realisations about the space and what surrounded it. I was looking at it with preconceived ideas and I needed to take a step back to observe the site objectively.

Whether it involved photographing details of the window or the reflections on the window, my investigation seemed to flatten my chosen site into two-dimensionality. While I could visually identify the details of my site and its environment, I wanted to explore the potential defamiliarization of the space through the creation of graphic prints. Adding repetitions and layers to allow for a different interpretation of the site.

Playing with the reflections of the inside and outside spaces, I created new realities in the form of prints, and in doing so, established a visual language that tells the story of my window and the view it offers. I wanted to create an unexpected kaleidoscopic journey through these experiments to change the triviality and mundaneness of the space to one of importance.

REFERENCES
Perec, G. (1974) Species of Spaces and Other Places. London: Penguin, pp. 46-68.
The Gleaners and I (2000) Directed by Agnès Varda. [Film]. Paris. Ciné Tamaris. 
Metahaven and Vishmidt, M. (2010) ‘Intro Riff’ in Uncorporate Identity. Baden: Lars Müller Publishers, pp. 2-49.

WHAT’S WORKING

• The experimentation of the photographs into three dimensional prints is great and conveys the idea of defamiliarization of the space while still maintaining its original elements.
• There is a big leap in progress from the previous week. Working with photography and digital prints turned out to be playful and satisfying.

WHAT’S NOT WORKING

• It still feels a little too controlled. Need to loosen up the process and try a few things that require less oversight and restraint.

TO DEVELOP THIS FURTHER/ IN FUTURE PROJECTS

• Instead of creating patterns yourself, think of using a computer software to do the same, as a way to relinquish some of the control over the outcome. However, create the patterns with the same intention.
• Focus on the way you create, interrogate, and analyse; and further investigate how that can change.
• Use this mix of 2D and 3D visuals to push your own practice.
• References:
1. Chance and Control: Art in the Age of Computers. Exhibit at V&A, SK.
2. A *New* Program for Graphic Design, David Reinfurt.

During week 2, I spent a lot of time observing my window at night. I started noticing the details of the reflections on the window, and how the inside layers the outside. I took pictures of these reflections, but I didn’t know what to do with them.

I placed all the images from weeks 1 and 2 on an artboard in the hope that something would strike me. All I could think of was to investigate them further based on their colour palettes. The process felt meaningless, and I got tired of it very quickly. 

Before deciding which direction, I wanted to continue my experiments in, I decided to try one more method of investigation. Not one to delve into further, but it was something I was curious about. I wanted to know what other people thought of their window. What did their window mean to them? I asked a few friends and got a bunch of varied responses. These were some of the answers:-

This past week I also realised that I did not open my window for any documentation during this whole process. And when I did, I noticed the beautiful reflection of the view on the outside of the window. But it felt very unfamiliar. While visually I could identify the details of the view, the repetitions and the layering within the reflections defamiliarised it, in an almost kaleidoscopic way.

I decided that I wanted to play with the reflections of the inside and outside spaces to create new realities in the form of patterns and prints. In doing so, seeking a visual language that will tell the story of my window and the view it offers. Adding layers to allow for a different portrayal of the space.

I live in Lewisham, on the 29th floor of a towering 35 storey building, providing me with an uninterrupted view of London. When I moved to London, I had to quarantine for 12 days. My window was the only gateway to London; it helped create a bond between me and my environment. Therefore, I chose my window as the site to explore for this project.

I started by noting down my initial thoughts about my window –
1. Provides a sense of comfort and ease
2. Gateway to the outside world
3. Brings in fresh morning air and sunlight
4. Withstands the climate and keeps the cold and damp out
5. Following the sun and the seasons
6. Using the handles to hang my clothes and bags

Over the first week, I started taking pictures of various parts of the window at different times of the day. I noticed paint spots, lint, and watermarks on and around the window.

Apart from photographic observation, I also recorded some auditory observations. Placing my phone on the ridge of the window sill, I recorded the sounds from both sides of the window. I noticed certain similarities between the two recordings – the sound of the train passing by, the beeping of the construction cranes, and some static.

However, nothing about the audio recordings surprised me. It was pretty much what I expected to hear. I realised the photographic observations were more intriguing and worth experimenting with for the next phase.