This is due later in April, and I gave a couple of images and a brief summary a few weeks ago – can’t remember what though!
Here it is, from an email on 8th January:
Cubism and Composites in the Photography of Memories
I’m interested in memories and how they change over time. Fragments may be lost, distorted , or have new significance on reflection or with new information over time.
Contemporary photography at the start of the 20th century could portray images similar to paintings. Picasso and Braque sought new ways of making images other than a realistic version. Their cubist form could show several views of a person/object/scene in one painting, or a series of images in motion in one final image.
I’m trying to recreate the cubist technique using photography – as well as making composite images of everyday objects that evoke memories of a time. Variations of these images are made to show that memories can change with time.
From the Riverside brochure
Where do our memories live? What do they do to pass the time? In BBC’s Repair Shop people bring in old, broken objects that anyone else would throw out, but to their owners, these objects are precious beyond value, because they remind them of their past, of their relatives, of their place in the world. When they see them in their repaired state the people are overcome with emotion and feel their connection has been sustained.
The images in this exhibition come from a slice of time when I studied for a MSc Physics at Brock University in Canada and the background image is a page from the thesis. Every time we look at such images and/or reflect on them, our original memories have been affected by time and the new life experiences we have made and so our memories undergo transformation. These images are digital composites and collages and can be thought to represent a jumble of memories from that time
Some of these images have suffered with passing time, and I wonder if my perceptions, experiences and memories have also changed and keep changing with time.
‘Memories had a long half-life’, Lessons, Ian McEwan, 2022.
The original emails:
Contemporary Tales Presentation information.
Before Christmas myself and Michele spoke about Contemporary Tales, a 20 minute talk to the BA cohort about our work, methods and research and what it’s like to study at MA level. I think it would be beneficial for us to think about our work, and how we communicate our practice to an audience.
Meet to confirm MA contributions to Contemporary Tales series UG GW. Propose 2- 20 minute presentations by MA students for each alt-month: Feb / Apr / May. Time for short, informal Q&A. Each session incl. Q&A is facilitated by a tutor. One image each, and a short statement / paragraph. Content discussed in relation to the making process, and research methodology. Making and facturing processes, tech across the work being shown. Any outward-facing output, event, publication. What role (if any) might writing have within the duration of the work being presented.
3rd Jan 2024: Meeting with Cheryl Huntbach and Blair Maule.
Update.
Today we discussed the potential opportunity / gains / benefits for the MA students, and that the sessions would be open to UG students approx 15 (20 max);
Confidence building, through practising informally presenting work via Zoom.
An opportunity to think about the language, materials and ideas you’re currently working with (potentially bringing a fresh, or different perspective).
Consider / learn ways to plan a short visual / textual presentation.
Find out how the work is received by a new / unfamiliar audience.
Gain support from your peers / tutor / UG.
Gain feedback and insight from UG / tutors.
Potentially gain new connections / peer network.
This is very relevant to us all, as we approach the conclusion of our course, and get ready for our exhibition and future.
1. We are initially asking for 4 student names (with me included) that are comfortable with talking about their practice, and would like to take part. At the end of the second session, if any student that hasn’t presented wishes to have a go, then we would be able to accommodate a third or fourth session.
1. We anticipate that we would be talking to 15 students and there will be time set aside for Q&A’s.
1. With this in mind could I have 3 names from those who would like to give a 20 minute talk. Including an image of work and a short paragraph overview, and please feel free to add in your social media and website addresses.
1. This is not mandatory, so please do not feel pressured to present. This is an opportunity to help us all, but I am sure we will all have future opportunities when we are ready.
1. The deadline is Wednesday 17th Jan.
Any questions then please feel free to get in touch.
With regards
With Kind Regards
Blair Maule
MA Fine Art Representative.
