FMP final evaluation

FMP final evaluation

The theme and topic:

The brief assignment was to respond to Metamorphosis as a title. I chose the creation of the world as a theme, with particular focus on the first day – the creation of light.
The concept of light in art is something I am constantly curious especially due to its strong relevancy to my name, as Or in Hebrew means light, therefore I chose to name my project “Let There Be Light”.

While studying the subject and experimenting with ideas and materials I have examined different light sources, bulbs and light chains. I found out some tones created different shades and reflections while others stole the focus from the main piece. It was a learning process during which I had to study the basics of optics and physics and find how to make use of this knowledge within my work.

The first stage of the project:

Once deciding that the respond to the topic will be the creation of the world, I started looking at each of the days and responding to it in two levels:

 The first level was as part of the whole creation where I will present each day of the creation using the same medium (painting, sculpting, textile etc.)

 The second level was as a topic within itself. Thus, for example, on the third day on which trees where created I chose to focus on the apple as an expression of trees and document the process the apple is going through (in this case I chose to focus on decay).

One of the problems I was facing during this stage was that I got engaged with every idea and found it very difficult to leave it as an initial idea and not going through it further and further. I had to constantly remind myself that the first stage was only to explore different ideas and not to produce a final product. This is a constant problem I am facing as I tend to explore things thoroughly and it can easily affect my time planning scheme.

Once deciding to focus on the first day of creation as the theme for my FMP I started thinking of how I would like to execute it. I had several ideas in mind and started ruling them out until I had one firm idea to develop from. Being fascinated by large pieces and installations, I aspired to exhibit a big structure piece that will create a “WOW” affect and will make the audience question the meaning of it and the idea behind it. It was only natural to me to focus on an abstract installation but it was also very challenging because by nature I am a highly organised person. The idea of chaos vs. order then came to life and it has constantly represented my inner struggle.

Writing the project proposal:

I knew I wanted to produce an installation and I knew I had to define the nature of my work but how could I do this without knowing what my work will look like? I started exploring similar ideas and presentations online and soon came across the concept of experimental projects where the project itself is a process of learning and the final product can, in fact, be a stage of the learning process that can stop at a certain point or keep evolving forever. I decided to go along with every stage of the installation and stop when I am happy with the result.

The main problem I faced during this stage was meeting the requirements of the brief. Throughout the year I struggled understanding the briefs because they were very vague but on this occasion it was nearly impossible to figure out how to write the proposal. I eventually wrote the proposal based on my experience and knowledge, and although it might have been “too much” for college purposes, I am happy with the result.

The second and third stages of the project:

Due to the nature of my project and the way I chose to document it, I approached stages 2 and 3 as one continuous unit on which I was experimenting with materials developing my idea and showing constant understanding of the contents we have learned through the year such as colour, line, shapes, space, aesthetics etc.

Managing time:

Due to personal circumstances I constantly had to change my time plan depending on fulfilling tasks on a daily basis. At the time of writing the initial time plane I was not aware of the resources I will need to put towards the project as well as other commitments (external exams outside of college) but being very determined and focused I pushed myself (and sometimes my tutors) into making decisions and commitments regarding my schedule (for example approving use the cubicle long before anyone had an idea about the layout of the exhibition space). I cannot thank my tutors enough for being so patient with me!
Although my time management plan kept changing, following the steps and stages made it very easy for me to maintain my time frame and stay focus on tasks that still needed to be done. I couldn’t start a task before completing the previous one and I always made sure I have extra time to explore different approaches before committing to one (for example testing a stronger projector after the top piece was hung, something I couldn’t do before it was placed).

Documenting the process:

Having an Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) I chose to document my work using a video camera to ensure that my work was fluent and I was not being distracted by having to stop, step back, take a picture, write notes and so on. I have asked the video and photography departments for technical advice and together we explored to options and methods of documenting before deciding to use my mobile phone.  This form of documentation proved itself well for me, as I could comment on each phase of my work in real time, and refer to it later when reflecting on it. I chose not to share the full files due to size limitation but I have edited a full video in a form of time-laps to show evidence of my work.

Assessment of research methods:

Choosing to work on an experimental project mostly meant trying and erring while constantly assessing my work, however a deeper research was needed. Most of my research was online, especially when I was looking into the qualities of lights and casting of shadows. I watched numerous YouTube videos explaining how light passes through objects, how it breaks and how it projects when hitting different surfaces. This initial research allowed me to decide which light source to use, the volume of the light needed to create the affect I was trying to create and how to manipulate it to my needs. I do believe I could have get a satisfying result without learning the basics of physics, but there is no doubt in my mind that this research saved me a lot of time and even some heartbreaks… using a prism and a lens, for example, is something I wouldn’t have considered without previous research and without using it i doubt I could get a range of light effects when using plastic bottles.

While the internet was a great resource of knowledge for some of the research, other things I had to see for myself: how an installation is placed in space, how it is hung, health and safety issues that needed to be taking into consideration and how materials can be manipulated to my needs.  I have spent a lot of time in several museums looking at different installations, how they are placed or hung, how they relate to other exhibits in the same space or how they are placed if they occupy their own space. I also researched artists that focus on light both online and in person to learn how other artists perceive light and show it in their work.

By personally witness other artist’s work I was constantly challenging myself. While some exhibits brought up my awareness to the process, others arouse my curiosity about the final result. Either way, gallery visits were an essential part of my understanding and learning process as they allowed me to assess my idea and execute it better.

Meeting the requirements of the original brief:

Looking back onto the 3 stages of the brief, the learning outcome and the final project I believe the outcome has met the requirements of the brief. I managed to produce a piece I am proud of within the time frame I was given. I have investigated the initial topic metamorphosis and responded to it by creating a piece that constantly changes and responds to the individual viewing it. This outcome is something I am very proud of and it has not changed conceptually from the planning stage to the final outcome. I managed to maintain the time frame and managed my time effectively and the final piece matches the original proposal to explore and demonstrate how the eye can be manipulated into seeing something different than what is presented in front of it depending on the perspective and perception of an individual. I have presented the relationships between chaos and order/beauty and ugly and I have managed to maintain a very low budget.

Other conclusions:

Once setting up the space for the end of year exhibition I realised that the space I was provided with was not very accessible for the viewers. In fact, due to the nature of my installation and the fact that all occurrences take place inside the cubicle it was essential that it will be located in a space and way it could be approachable by the audience.  On this current occasion, the location in the studio the cubicle was placed the only way the audience could see the installation was by accidently coming across it while viewing someone else’s piece.

In the future I will keep such things in mind and will consider this from the early stages of planning to the final stage exhibiting.