Extended Research: Africans in the Renaissance

After Toby Warner's seminar I thought that I would have a go at researching black Africans in Renaissance art to see if it was as easy to find material as he stated so. And as a matter of fact, it was extremely so, if not even easier! So as I searched through the countless images I thought I should gather a small selection of the works to reference to Warner's seminar that I wrote about previously.

If you were to do the same as I, and research this stunning but also boggling subject I would have to recommend visiting The Walters Art Museum's website. This is down to the fact that this Baltimore museum held an exhibition specific to this subject. From October 14, 2012–January 21, 2013 the Walters Art Museum opened the 'Revealing the African Presence in Renaissance Europe' exhibition which was dedicated to exactly as it says on the tin. This exhibition is doing proud the points that Warner was making early in his seminar, that peoples of black African ethnicity, although feature quite heavily in the works of the 1400/1500's, are not shown openly, leaving them out of the history books, and out of the class room altogether. This website and exhibition do a fantastic job at highlighting the importance of different ethnicity in everyday life but also within art. 

‘Creative industries seminar’

 

‘Creative industries seminar’

With Toby Warner

Black history walks London

 

 On entering the main theatre and being given the handout for the seminar I immediately thought to myself that this, yet again, is going to be another one of those assemblies that had bored me to death all the way through high school and Sixth Form College. Throughout my school and sixth form years I had been given the same boring assemblies and talks about the same kind of boring, uninteresting, un-affective subjects. Toby Warner changed this.

This seminar was not at all boring, far from it actually. Full to the brim of information unheard and unseen before with an extremely confident, comfortable and charming speaker meant that I found myself wanting to be sat there listening. With my ears opened wide to every word spoken I didn’t feel as if time was at all wasted, which is the norm for me when sitting through two hour seminars.

In the two hours Warner spoke about the portrayal of black peoples in the media and other Medias and did a marvellous job at gauging my attention by specifically focusing on my subject specialism of art, which I was very thankful for.  He began his lecture by introducing a series of images ‘found on Google’ that spanned back throughout history. These pieces of timed artworks depicted men and women of black ethnicity in highly regarded and respected positions such as saints and priests., which dated back as early as the 1400’s.

Such artwork being unknown to me, this was mind blowing but also rather shocking and upsetting at the same time. It was horrible to think that these images had been held back from being shown to us as we grew up, for no arguable reason. Even now, as I am completing my further college year, nearing higher education and university, I still see a lack of if not any images such as those I was shown sitting in Warners seminar.

Warner did a momentous job of opening my eyes to the racial unjust and racism that we today live in. I shall use such thoughts that Warner provoked and helped create inside me not only within my practice, helping it grow that extra layer, but also in my day by day life and how I look at things.

I would say if you ever had a chance as to watch one of Warners lectures or partake in one of his walks or shows then definitely take that chance, with both hands, because honestly, it will totally change the way you see things. It did for me.

Contextual Horizons Research: HAMLEYS

 Hamleys Toy Shop... 

http://www.hamleys.com/

... is my fourth choice in my research to expand my contextual horizons. I have never before been to Hamley's so I don't know exactly what to expect or what to actually gain from the experience. However, hearing from those experienced in this toy store department I am rather excited! I've been told so many great things about this place that I wish I could just go there now as I am speaking, well writing. Although Hamleys is a toy shop and may seem a bit of a doss, I feel that visiting this place will be an asset to my practice. With masses of toys, games, sweets and all that children dream about this could be of great advantage to gaining experience in both the illustration and also graphic designers field. I could get some great observational work done here, whether that would be photography or be it drawing. I don't just aim to stare at all this marvel, but I also wish to play with products, taste sweets and even possibly talk to some of the staff that work there, so that my experience of the place is as great as it can be. I want this trip to be able to open my mind up to that of a child so that I can then use it within my practice and further my thoughts when creating artwork or even when time comes to reflect. London is not too far, and is within a 2 hour train journey. I will be making a whole day of this trip, with Hamleys as my only destination within London, so Big Ben will have to wait. Photos and a review and reflection of my trip will be posted once I return from this fabulous adventure. Its like I'm a kid again! 

Contextual Horizons Research: 'Subversive Design'

Sebastian Brajkovic, Lathe v Red, 2008.

Courtesy Carpenters Workshop Gallery

My third activity I have chosen to visit is the ‘Subversive Design’ exhibition being held at the Brighton Museum and art gallery from 12 October 2013 to 9^th march 2014.

 As an exhibition that ‘subverts your preconceptions and challenges your relationship with objects you use on a daily basis’ I think that this is an opportunity that I would kick myself over if lost. It’s a perfect chance to see how these designers and artists have thought ‘outside the box’ to create the artwork on show which can only help me progress in my own practice. A personal target for myself is to always try and push, if not, break the boundaries, to extend past what is expected and I think this Exhibition is a superb way of aiding me in this challenge. I am excited to see how exactly the designers and craftsmen 

on show, such as Alexander McQueen, have tackled the idea of changing perceptions and preconceptions, taking the everyday and manipulating it in such a way.

I am very giddy about this one, I haven’t really much idea of what things are going to be like, and I have never really focused in on design and craftsmen element of art yet before, so this too will be a great way of expanding my subject area knowledge which will only do me justice.

The admission cost for this exhibition is a modest £6 for adults, concession and disabled £4, B&H residents being free and children under the age of 15 go free.

I shall report back with thoughts, reflections and a review of the exhibition once visited.

I am quite buzzing :) 

http://www.brighton-hove-rpml.org.uk/WhatsOn/Pages/BMAGSubversiveDesign.aspx 

Contextual Horizons research: 'Between Dimensions'- John Carter RA

The next Activities I wish to complete for this task is to visit the ‘Between Dimensions’ exhibition held at the Royal Academy in London, specifically the Tenant Gallery. This exhibition held by the RA is showing the works of RA John Carter. The reason in which I chose to visit this exhibition especially was not just because of the works of Carter but because it is showing the transformation and journey his work undergoes, from ideas to sketchbooks to the final finished piece. I think this will allow me to see firsthand at how a professional working artist reflects on his work and how he develops these reflections. This will help me gain vital experience which will allow me to better my practice using and improving my own reflections, as it is a target of mine at college.   

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/the-tennant-gallery/john-carter-ra-between-dimensions,480,RAL.html 

This exhibition is to be held at the Royal Academy in London from, the 2^nd October 2013 to the 16^th February 2014.

Opening times:

Tuesday–Friday, 10 am–4 pm

Saturday and Sunday, 10am–6pm                            

John Carter RA,
'Matrix', 2012. Oil on cut paper
, 475 x 475 mm. © the artist.
Photo: Peter Abrahams, Lucid Plane

Contextual Horizons Research: 'Inner life of objects'- Jan Svakmajer

The first of my 5 activities I researched and chose is the ‘inner life of objects’ by Surrealist film artists Jan Svankmajer. This galley is to be held at the Brighton Universities Sallis Benney Theatre and University Gallery in celebration of Svankmajers marvelous 50 year career in the business since his first ever film. The Gallery is open from 11/10/13- 2/12/13, Mon-Fri 11am-7pm ,Sat 10am-5pm. This show, being a celebration of his 50^th anniversary will be displaying “sets and decors, puppets, costumes, drawings and storyboards from many of his acclaimed films including Alice, Punch and Judy, Lunacy, A Quiet Week in the House, Little Otik and Surviving Life”. “Alongside these artifacts from 50 years of film-making, THE INNER LIFE OF OBJECTS presents prints and sculptures – including imaginary beasts assembled from bones, shells and stones – in his Historia Naturae series, made by Jan Švankmajer between 1972 and 2012”.

The reason in why I thought that this would be a good activity to ‘expand my contextual horizons’ is that I have always been very intrigued by video art. I have always wanted to attempt it but with my previous sixth form college I never go round to it. Having the chance to see such an array of work by a master of the film making industry can give me an inspirational push towards finally overcoming my fear and finally taking my first step into the subject area. I have added in a hyperlink onto the page that I had found which allowed me and notified me that such an event was taking place. I have also added one of Svankmajer’s films that I found most amazing.  

http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/whats-on/gallery-theatre/gallery-events/gallery-exhibitions-2013/october13/jan-vankmajer-the-inner-life-of-objects

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRe6nnoaGEY   

Tuesday 15th October: Expanding Contextual Horizons Task

"TUESDAY 15th October: task 2

A proposal to expand your contextual horizon:

Research 5 activities to engage with/attend by 1^st January 2014. Try to be adventurous in your selection and move beyond the expected. Suggest how each could inform the development of your practice.

Post details of the five activities and any information you can find about the activity to include images & a rationale for why you consider it appropriate "

When given this breif a sea of ideas flooded my head, and i couldnt think of what i actually wanted, should or needed to do. I had to put it onto paper, a map was a great idea. I decided to put down onto paper all my ideas that i thought of, possible or not, and then go from there. Here is the map of my thoughts, sorry for those who wont be able to read my scribble of a handwriting. 

map of thoughts for task 2

Monday 14th October: The Convesration Task

MONDAY 14th October: The Conversation Task:

For this task we were asked to Work in pairs and Approach this task as if it were a conversation. One of us was asked to use the prompts below and question the other whilst taking note/scribing the answers. We then swapped so that both of us could take part and finalise with our own answers. We were also asked to use our maps and posters (work created in lessons) in addition to these questions as a starting point. Once we had finished this paired task we were asked to go on to develop these answers into a draft personal statement, told to be very careful to read out loud our draft to make sure it sounds like our own 'voice' and not 'essay speak'.

Student: b) Me (George Francis) Questioner: a) Amy Downes

a) “Give a basic introduction about your area of interest demonstrating how this was sparked, suggest things you have done that demonstrate this eg attending conferences/exhibitions/workshops etc etc”?

b) "No area of interest, want to do everything + anything, sparked by going to the Tates, RA summer exhibition 2012, both college and school, 4 weeks at foundation, working with others and practising artists, realised that by doing bits and bobs that I enjoyed a lot, didn’t actually wanna focus on anything grounded and particular.

Realistic, traditional oil portraiture, because I cant actually do it, I hate not being able to do something, Ive only used them once though, but never have been able to draw or paint in acrylics and that in realism, it pisses me off".

      
      a) "What are your current intrests and the methods and materials you are playing with
           and planning to work with"?

b) "Current interests are... getting to grips and know oils, because Ive used them once and i quite liked it, oil based mono printing because it excited me and I'd only used water based at college and school. I loved the difference. I also liked the blind drawing task we did. Ive always wanted to use textiles more."

       a) “Talk a little about the ideas that are affecting you and how your practice (thinking
             and the stuff you make/do) has progressed since being on the Foundation”?

b) "Feel a lot less controlled, i can experiment a hell of a lot more, which i haven't before, use far more materials and be more expressive, myself! I let the materials do a lot of the art too, they can run, splat, or not do anything if they want, I'm not as caring to them, doing what i want as much nowadays".

a) “What key influences have affected your practice either because you are excited, intrigued, enthralled by them, because they inspire you technically, because they repulse you (often inspiration comes from what you do not want to do)”?

b) "not much repulses me, but if i had to say something, then it would be photography. I do like it, sometimes, buts its not involved as i want to be, and its hard for me to do what i want, as its not me that's creating the image, its the camera. It frustrates me."

a) “Talk about your ambition and why you would enjoy a BA course (peers, discussions, inspirational tutors etc etc)”?

b) "My ambition is everything, its not one thing! I don't like the idea of subject area, if it could be possible, i never want to stick to one medium or one subject area or style. I guess i might have to, style wise, as everyone needs their own style. But i guess again, not having a style could be my style, but that's a style, which i don't want... I want to be in galleries, museums, i want my name to be known, George Francis, (George Barber's already in use). I wanna be taught by the masters of art in Europe."

Turning a new page

From here on out I will be using this as my PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE blog for my foundation year at my new college. Here I will be posting my journey through this year and the progress me and my practice will go through. Hoping to graduate onto a BA course or onto something of the same importance I have decided to use this blog as my online portfolio. Please Enjoy :)