Published Writing | Film // Art | Kiss Kiss Kill Kill (For Leeds Student News)

My review of the Kiss Kiss Kill Kill exhibition, written for Leeds Student News, printed in the 21/03/2014 issue of LSi. The original can be found here.

Currently being exhibited in the Leeds College of Art Blenheim Walk Gallery, Kiss Kiss Kill Kill is a wonderful collection of graphic art posters representing an era of European Spy genre cinema that spans from the 50s to the 70s.

People instantly think of the James Bond films when Spy Films are mentioned; and that is something that is absent from this exhibition. I see this as a good thing, he is already well represented in this era of films; and Kiss Kiss Kill Kill has opened my eyes beyond this particular mind set and showed me just how big the Euro spy film era really was. Beyond the suited and booted gadget welding Bond with his arms around a woman, who represented what people wanted to be a secret agent or a Bond girl. This isn’t all that different from the other films, just take away the Bond name and you have what is the foundations of a Spy film. Bond is a franchise, a name we need to look a little beyond that to see the full appeal of this genre.

In 1968 Italy made 73 Spy films, which puts into context just how popular a craze these types of films really were. With such a quantity of films being made so quickly, the quality of them is something to question. But in this exhibition we don’t see the films themselves, we see the art to poster process that played a part in advertising the films; and what excited an audience into seeing them. The power of colour, balance of image and text in a graphic image form added a flare that seems to be lost within a lot of film posters now.

Here we see images that depict the role of the spy, both as a profession and a reflection of them as propaganda; as something people aspired to be. They are super beings, independent and smart. Nothing truly goes wrong in the end. A surprising addition was seeing some female representation, and not just that of the Bond girl type, women in strong empowering roles placed in the front centre of the posters. It shows a lot about the era, and a reflection on the times of the Cold War.

I had the opportunity to speak to the curator, Richard Rhys Davies, about his collection and his love of cinema. It was great to speak to someone who so passionate about his work, and this is well reflected in his exhibit.

I urge you to go see this exhibition and gaze upon the beauty of the brush like strokes and rich texture in these original posters; which have been so lovingly collected, framed and represented in the gallery space.

HOARD | Towards An Archaeology of The Artist Mind | Group Meet (March)

It's that time again for the Hoard artist meet up, this month we welcome a group of new artists to the group as Hoard starts to fill up more and more space with collections, curiosities and art work. Also on the plan of action this evening, three artists critiques and a chance to discuss new work.


Group critiques

The audio for each critique will be available on the HOARD SoundCloud soon.

Ryan Thompson

Artist statement (as stated on HOARD website)

Contemporary Artist Ryan Thompson is based in Leeds, but is working throughout the country. His work transverses several mediums including film and performance, more recently leaning towards live and participatory art forms. The focus of his practice is based around fairytale culture – an umbrella term including local and global folklore, legends, mythical creatures and story telling. Appropriating these into his artistic universe helps to develop and communicate understandings of their use in forms of escapism and how their narratives and illusions work and affect us.

Jade Montserrat

Artist statement (as stated on HOARD website)

Accumulation & The Archive.

These words crop up throughout research I am undertaking as one of the resident artists at Crescent Arts, Scarborough. 

I process imagery, creating an archive. This process involves printmaking, embedding images in hand-made paper, making books, performance, writing and creating sculptural objects and installations.

My participation in Hoard will allow the work to develop by transferring solitary and intimate actions performed in the studio into a space intended for exchange.



















Anna-Karin Lilleengen

Artist statement (as stated on HOARD website)

Drawing on ideas from Walter Benjamin on the aura of the art object and how the era of mechanical reproduction has altered the nature of the work of art, Lilleengen creates unique pieces that express the effects of time on the physical via a camera and technique that are in themselves considered almost as transient: antique, deteriorating and, speaking of handcrafting as a process, something now almost obsolete.

Exploring the boundary between subjective and objective, she creates images that embody her inner experience of the tension, on the one hand, between the transience of the physical and, on the other hand, the perceived permanence of internal experience and aspects of the sub- and unconscious.

The forest features heavily as a setting, being a place where the safe, known personal can merge into more expansive and instinctual experiences of being. Alluding to symbols from the unconscious, such as fairytale or the magical, routes are created into a more ambiguous but perhaps more enduring sense of reality. Here transience and impermanence join with wider elemental forces that are self-renewing to form a source of solace in what is an increasingly digitised, commoditised world.

The forests of Värmland are a place where year on year Anna Lilleengen has spent time, and as such is a natural setting for her work: here the forests are reclaiming their elemental status as people move out and the wild (wolves, bears, boar) move back in. Aspects of pictorialism can be seen in her work that draws inspiration from the wet plate collodion techniques of Sally Mann. The sense of heritage and honouring history is a major strand in the work: physical heritage (the place, the body, the object) and also the spiritual legacy of family/ancestors/culture that one could say is often intuited, rather than reasoned or ‘known’.

Lilleengen creates work that requires you to look closer, reflect and navigate your own way through the darkness of the forest.

Book Two | I didn't write a word | Found Words | Process of recording two

Some more found notes and writing, I have started to notice a trend in lost university notes and shopping lists.

The ones I find the most interesting are the written notes left for others and also the fact these were lost which also makes me wonder if it ever made it to the people it was meant for.

Published Writing | Art | Gonzo Illustrator Ralph Steadman - Artist Talk (For the Leeds College of Art Website)

My review of the Artist Talk with Ralph Steadman, written for the Leeds College of Art Website. Also featured in the April 2014 issue of NEST magazine. The original can be found here.

BA (Hons) Fine Art student Paisley Boyd reviews the recent artist talk over Skype by gonzo illustrator Ralph Steadman.

Known for his distinctive style, world changing voice and collaboration with Hunter S. Thompson, it was a real honour to hear Ralph Steadman talk to a room full of inspiring young artists eager to hear everything he has to say. A man whose list of works stretch far into the distance, giving his own style, perspective and angle even to well known and much loved classic literature; using his own tone of voice to transform these pieces as his own.

Live artists talks are always a great chance for students and staff at the College to not only listen to, but to interact, get advice and in turn be fully inspired in their own work. As the Skype call rung out across the studio theatre, you could see people shuffling with excitement to then be met with the cheerful face of Captain Hat wearing Ralph Steadman and so began an insight into his studio, way of working and a body of work that stretched across his whole life career.

The talk kicked off to a cracking start as Steadman sneaked off camera to reappear with a mirror stating “something experimental here, I want to see if you can see yourselves,” as he positioned the mirror in front of the camera. What in aid of, you ask? What I originally thought was just a stunt to make us laugh took a turn I didn’t expect as he continued with “That’s what visual things are all about, the accidental, if it’s not an accident, it’s not fun. It’s not about being vicious or unkind or mean or generally unpleasant, it’s about being naughty.”

He then began show work around him and when asked “What did you make it in response to?”

He shouted, “For no good reason!”

We follow him through the studio tour room after room, in a labyrinth of ink, paper and a trumpet of which Ralph gives us a show, unfortunately just as the screen freezes; a wave of sighs and oh no’s showing just how much the audiences was enjoying this.

It was very exciting to see his work as a student.  As his daughter stated “even Ralph had to learn somewhere,” it is easy to forget that every creative person starts off somewhere and we usually see them for the voice they have developed over time and through life experiences; which can be a little bit scary for students to see as they try to figure out their own path. To see someone such as Ralph Steadman from the start helped to piece together the story and journey of his creative process.  He not only showed us his earlier work, he told us how they came about, what formed this and who taught him. A point at which a lot of us are at, it is refreshing to hear this first hand from artists you admire. Learning from the tutor during life drawing, he describes it as “making a mess and not getting it right for the tutor to come over and point out mistakes” This would happen 24 times in each class, creating 24 individual lessons. It’s funny to hear how he was taught this way; mainly for his ideology that there are “no such thing as mistakes.” Ralph entertained us with  short anecdotes about some of the characters that used to life model, which a lot of people who go to life drawing classes can relate to; making you realise you're not alone and what a laugh it is. 

“I really wanted to learn to draw, most importantly.”

Let's look at the drawings “to hell with me,” proclaims Steadman as he stands behind a stack of work, and we are given a special look into some selected works among the mountain of papers.  Scrolling through pieces such as a gardener watering his awards, a man going to get a book from a library, but having his forehead stamped instead. A weatherman being pelted because he is giving us a bad performance, a street band with a grand piano, a man in a canoe with a horn and a vicar going to get a new suit.

“I was trying to be rebellious in my work, which gave it a sort of edge. I wanted edge in it, if you don’t get that it’s uninteresting and such. If it doesn’t excite me what the hell is it going to do for someone else? It’s about conveying your inner self, you’re externalizing it on paper or whatever you use, canvas, acetate, anything!”

 “It had to sort of either make people angry, amused, it had to do something really positive otherwise it was just a drawing filling a space The finished pieces research stories and  rough sketches  all help to clarify Ralph’s way of working and thought processes. “It must be first hand, you don’t go and report on the story you become the story. That’s what gonzo journalism was.”

As the talk came to an end, students were able to ask questions, which sparked all manners of interesting, wild answers.  From “Will you be my Valentine Ralph?” A question that ended in an exchange of drawings and a “Yes”. To mistakes and erasing, with a shouted response of “DON'T RUB OUT! There is no such thing as a mistake, it is an opportunity to do something else.” The question asking the difference between good illustration and truly great illustration sparked an inspirational response about honesty; illustration is a diagram nothing more, we do drawings and the meaning of the art to the artist. “We are too full of rules and regulations now; it’s the death of fun,” leading on to a fantastic story about the past with Hunter S. Thompson involving expensive yachts and spray paint. And ending on “What advice would you give to a student starting out?” the instant response being “give it up.” Or “dedicate your life to making mistakes that matter.”

Illustration student Sophie Wright was involved in asking one of these questions, and I had the opportunity to ask her about this experience.

“As a fan of Steadman’s through “Fear and Loathing”, getting to speak to him and also having the opportunity to look through his other work was an amazing experience.”

It is safe to say Ralph Steadman is an illustrator who has changed the world through his life time of work, that stands loud and proud. He portrayed his unique tone across everything he applies ink to and, on top of that, gave a talk that has influenced and motivated everyone in the room in their own practice. Everyone left with a smile on their faces, heads full of inspirational words, and a feeling that they could take on the world. 

Book One | The Anti Book | Everything I have written in two weeks | Example

Below is a section of the start of my recording of everything I have written over a two week period. This is about 2/3 days worth, it is raw, unedited, no checking on the grammar or spelling, it's all as I wrote it. Some are reviews and emails so would have been checked, others are quick lists, notes, facebook messages so less time or care has been taken to check this. This also gives a change in language used, documenting how writing becomes formal or informal depending on who the text was aimed at. 

I left that review in the staff room for you. Hey if I leave my holiday form behind the sign that says holiday form box at 12pm on the sign on the board would you sticker it for me please? Thank you so much.

No words can fully describe how excited I was for this film. Not only is it a Lego movie, it was created by the same guys who made Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. By taking an ordinary minifigure called Emmet and making him extraordinary, the Lego Movie formed something you don’t quite expect from a childrens movie. This film very much sits with the style of Wreck it Ralph in that it appeals to a young audience in its form and colour, and it appeals to older audiences through thoughtful ideas, dialogue and memories of the past.

There’s much more to this movie than just lots of colourful bricks. It centres around solid morals and a story questioning a whole range of issues. On the surface it’s extra fun and entertaining, as the master builders attempt to save the day from President Business destroying the Lego city. Where else could you find Batman, Superman, Abraham Lincoln and Gandalf all in one movie?

You are transported to the Lego universe as you follow a huge cast of actors playing very diverse characters. I enjoyed the character of ‘Benny the 80s Something Space Guy’ and I wasn’t alone. One child insisted on quoting this character even after his parents told him off. This film managed to keep up a love of Lego for fans of all ages as well as keeping the storyline a surprise. It all boiled down to a thoughtful and interesting ending that I didn’t expect. No matter what your age, don’t be embarrassed to go and see this film; it isn’t just made for fans of the franchise, but also for those who just want a laugh.

They are out of Hobbit toys nooooo, this is sad sad news. They may get some in? But they took the price tag down. Fly the flag upside down, this is a sad sad time. Not a problem, I’m at uni across the road anyways. I’m here just inside the front entrance.

Things that need doing: book digital print for scans, talk to guys down at Vernon street about bookbinding, InDesign for layout. Woodwork for bench or find one at the charity shop and foreword for the book. Ideas for the exhibition continuing with this idea of overheard conversations and finding a way in which to present them. Taking away the plinth may encourage more interaction with it. Tear off take me poster and/or slips. Use a plastic leaflet box? Leave some scattered around the space as if already viewed and discarded. Edit existing text, plus get more of these.

Thursday I have an exhibition just to let you guys know. I understand your working, just thought I’d say. Leeds Student News thought you guys might be interested. My first review up on the Leeds Student News website, would love to know what people think of it. It gets taken down on the Monday, but may not be open, no idea. What are you coming to Leeds for?

Hey Dude, Fine Art are making posters, we have an exhibition in about two weeks (a little last minute) and I was wondering if you or if you know any Illustration students that would be up for making a quick poster for us? We haven’t got much of a budget to pay, however the poster will be used for the advertisement and you will also be invited to the private opening night, which has booze.

Thank you, I felt it just became a generic action sci-fi that it wasn’t asking or doing anything new, it needed more. Very true. Haha where was that from? Love it, the sideways flying pigeon. Has the television part for the BAFTAs been dropped? We sell this at my work. Totally agree with you. Thank you for the holiday form I couldn’t make it in this week otherwise.

Hey I’ll be back in about an hour I’m just at uni at the moment. Just got a meeting with the newspaper. Thank you. You’re shackled to your own knowledge. Contacting Bradford Film Festival about press pass, what publications I write for and who I have worked with. Book digital print room as soon as possible. She killed herself quite earlier on and in doing so concealed her legend.

Reality television is very similar to that of earlier ‘freak’ shows. Hello, no problem, I’m currently hoping I have it completed and send off tonight. Will send it as soon as possible. Many thanks, Paisley. They need BAFTA in this evening are you around to edit it please by any chance? Please. My Lego review is in I’m doing BAFTA, but they were let down by the person before hand and they need it in quickly.
Point in time in a lesson. Round one, staring blankly, chewing on a cup, scratching his knee, looking at her phone, arms crossed listening mode, voicing her opinion, leaning back and chewing gum, arms crossed staring at the power point. Elbow on the table with chin leaning on their hand. Biting nails and typing on a laptop, following the people who are talking with her eyes, playing with a glasses case. Writing, scratching her nose and presenting a lesson.

I have no idea. Bag ell is how they say it in Canada. So the worst day has just got worse. He knows where I live. I have no idea what happened, he saw it’s too late, mission failed. You know when they talk about the breaking point of the unsub in Criminal Minds, this day is that.

Only Lovers Left Alive wasn’t an option. It got reviewed before Christmas. They may consider it yet. Today is a bad day. They need BAFTA in this evening, are you around to edit it please by any chance? They need it as soon as possible. I’m hoping my laptop works tonight or I am in trouble. I’m feeling horrible at the moment. I have no idea, how are you?

You got cream for it? I should finish my review by midnight that too late? Okay are you sure? I feel bad if I wake you. It happens. As soon as possible I said I would do it this evening. Thank you, I’m annoyed they did this. I fell asleep, I am awake and writing, my house was watching Coriolanus and I just snored through it. You awake? I’m struggling, nearly finished, you up? You awake? It’s late sorry. Will you be up around 8ish? It’s utter shit, my review that is, but I don’t care at this point. They can wait a little longer as long as it’s in for tomorrow morning to be up by the afternoon. Let me know when you’re up and if you have a minute. If I don’t respond I may need waking up also.

Yes I’m getting up and I’m really ill. I’ll be a couple of minutes as my laptops turning on and also trying no to be sick. Did you get it? I need help with the ending. I was allowed 500 as it is online that okay? It’s pretty terrible; I’m really struggling since yesterday being bad and ill. All I was bothered about was Helen Mirren’s inspirational speech, Cate Blanchett’s tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman and Will Poulter picking up the rising star award as it was a bloody hard choice and that’s who I voted for in the end. Oh and Stephen Fry rhyming part with Mr Hanks in Saving Mr Banks, David O. Russell’s American Hustle. Also correcting grammar like a boss.

I need an ending, I suck. Thank you. Think the end is too cheesy? Also First green. Yes, what’s the blue? Okay. At least the British weather held up and surprisingly didn’t rain this year. Sweet, second green? I like it. Yes. Second. Just Tinie didn’t like him. Thank you. Yes much better thank you. Done. Just going to read through it quickly. No it’s okay I finished it too late. I can’t make sense of that first blue. Those we lost last year. Wait I just realised I was reading it wrong. Sorry highlights threw me off a little. It did mean 2013. Wait no, yeah your right. Just finished reading it, dropped some words. Thank you. Is the ending okay? I was worried I said film too much.

Last Sunday was time again to celebrate not only the past year in film, but also the people who made it happen and those among them we lost this year. The BAFTAs 2014 saw Gravity, 12 Years a Slave and American Hustle emerge as the big winners of the night.

I did something I don’t normally do when I view awards ceremonies, and that is watch the red carpet coverage. Honestly, you’re never missing much that the awards themselves don’t cover in the terms of dresses and general chit chat; however one thing that isn’t present inside the Royal Albert Hall is the deafening screams of star struck fans in their desperation to get an autograph. So much so that Oprah Winfrey said of her first time at the BAFTAs “I thought it would be very British and Subdued.. NO!” At least the weather held up, which is often the most unpredictably British part of the awards, and thankfully for the A-listers and their hairdos, it didn’t rain this year.

Film awards can be very hit and miss. It not only depends the films, the stars, but also the most important point of all, the host. National treasure Stephen Fry is always an utter delight and last year he hosted the BAFTAs with characteristic wisdom and wit. This year however saw a more nervous, more subdued Fry. His jokes kept a level of slight playfulness, but stayed safe enough not to upset anyone, including the opening line “I find myself humbled, honoured and – in the best sense of the word – paid to be here.” Fry continued the joyous jokes by asking Leonardo Dicaprio to continue a BAFTA tradition and blow a kiss to the camera in his explanation that “we drew lots until your name came out, what are the odds of that?”

Onwards with the night, and we saw a film and music montage from Tinie Tempah and Laura Mvula with clips from the past year of films which reminded me of some fantastic films overlooked in the nominations. The performance was a little odd, and the response from the crowd seemed to reflect that; news of Tinnie’s high five with Prince William erupted on twitter not long after. Fry jumped in just before the announcements to address what can be one of the most painful elements of these ceremonies, in the most British way possible, by saying that when you say thank you after receiving a cup of tea “you don’t thank the kettle, the cup, the milk, the cow, the tea picker.”

The night saw Alfonso Cuaron’s space thriller Gravity bag several awards, including Best Director and Outstanding British Film, which makes one wonder what actually constitutes a British production: is it just based on where the thing is filmed? Gravity also went on to win Best Sound, an award accepted with a cheeky “there is no sound in space, but there you go.” Universally acclaimed 12 Years a Slave was another close contender, winning both Best Picture and Best Actor for Chiwetel Ejiofor. However, the award I was most interested in was The EE Rising Star Award, partially voted for by the public. Dane DeHaan, George MacKay, Lupita Nyong’o and Léa Seydoux were all fantastic nominations, but the award was deservingly won by Will Poulter of Son of Rambow and We’re the Millers fame, who gave a very heartfelt speech. A few other inspiring acceptance speeches that should be noted include Cate Blanchett’s after picking up her award for Leading Actress in Blue Jasmine. In a gracious and touching manner, she dedicated her award to the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Last but not least came Dame Helen Mirren who picked up this year’s Fellowship award and gave a thoughtful speech about remembering those who inspired you and, in doing so, thanking them.

Through award ceremonies we remember the films of that year, give praise to exceptional films and remember those in the industry whom the world has lost. It is a celebration of all things film and those who are a part of it as both makers and viewers, something that will hopefully go on to inspire future film makers.

Predictable as always, but a delight to watch. Thank you, I should shower also. Hello, yes I’m free today what time and place is best for you? See you soon, Paisley. We haven’t got any particular dates booked in until March when we officially re-launch. If you email James or John they would know the best times. Quite open really as it’s a special event. Hope your well, Paisley. Hi Tom, that sounds great, I would love to get involved with that. I didn’t attend the Jamal Edward’s talk unfortunately, however I will be up for future events. Many thanks for this opportunity, Paisley.

To do today, book digital print, think about work for proposal, meet Joanna at 3.30pm in the Students’ Union and write up interviews. That’s perfect, shall I meet you at the Students’ Union? See you then. Are you in this evening and fancy watching Filth? It is done, so much stress, how are you? What time are you going in? I’m just getting ready also. Same haha, I’ll be out the door in 15 minutes if you want to walk together? I can wait if you like? In no rush. You sure? No problem I just realised I’m meeting comic soc at Bierkeller tonight, my bad also. I just realised the 1st March is the Steampunk Fair at Armley, I can’t do the Derby, but did you want to come to this?

Book Two | I didn't write a word | Found Words | Process of recording

Since finding the first few pieces of writing in the street, I started to notice more and more, a collection is starting grow. Every set I find, i'm going to post each collection up on here in order to document these to look back on.

Film Festival | 60th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen | Going to Oberhausen

It has been confirmed I am going to the 60th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, for a research trip as part of Cherry Kino. I haven't been to many film festivals, but since attending Leeds International film festival two years ago I have made more of an effort to attend more film screenings and now visit more film festival, especially outside of the UK, Oberhausen being the first. I am excited to attend this festival, it's moving into its 60th year this year and is one festival that prides itself on showing a wide range of artists films. A lot of artists and film makers I admire have shown their films here in the early stages of their careers and I am looking forward to seeing new works from film makers I don't know anything about yet.

About (information taken from their website)

Short film is still the prime source of innovation for the art of film - the experimental field in which future cinematic vocabularies first crystallize. Today its diversity of forms, themes and approaches across the globe is greater than ever - video or film, short fiction film or essay, installation, graduation film or artist's video, animation, documentary, and all imaginable hybrids thereof.

The International Short Film Festival Oberhausen has been part of this highly charged field for over 50 years now, as a catalyst and a showcase for contemporary developments, a forum for what are often heated discussions, a discoverer of new trends and talent, and not least as one of the most important short film institutions anywhere in the world. Some 6000 films submitted on average per year, around 500 films shown in the festival programmes and over 1100 accredited industry professionals are proof enough.

In the course of more than five decades, the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen has become one of the world's most respected film events - a place where filmmakers and artists ranging from Roman Polanski to Cate Shortland, from George Lucas to Pipilotti Rist have presented their first films. Oberhausen has managed to instigate various political and aesthetical developments, for instance through the Oberhausen Manifesto, perhaps the most important group document in the history of German film. Careful programming and a pioneering choice of subjects has helped the Festival to build up its exclusive position in an increasingly unpredictable market.

-

My aim is to see as many films as possible, document new ideas and techniques used and expand my knowledge that will hopefully inform my own practice. I am also going to take this opportunity to write a piece covering the festival alongside a film which I hope to use as an example for my portfolio. The programme will be released soon of which I'll be able to plan what I am going to see at the festival. Really looking forward to this.

Book One | The Anti Book | Everything I have written in two weeks | Process of recording

The idea of this Anti book is to do a contrast on what a book or novel basically is. A book consists of a bulk of writing, word count varied, but a rough guide of...

Novel over 40,000 words,
Novella 17,500 to 40,000
Novelette 7,500 to 17,500 words
Short Story under 7,500 words.

The writing contained in a book is a usually something with purpose say something that is either a story with a start, beginning and end, or something that holds information of a subject in a structured form. These are usually edited, all have a set structure and laid out in chapters or sections.

By recording everything I write in two weeks, i'm reflecting on all the words that are just simple typed and forgotten about, all the lists and comments to people that are gone into the mass of text we write everyday. Also through this I am ignoring the editing process, giving it a raw feel, but also if this is then put into a book form does this simply make it a book even though the past rules have been ignored?

I am attempting to record this by a series of taking photographs, screen shots and copy and pasting everything I write with a time and date by it that will then be reordered after the two weeks into a word document, which the next steps can be taken from there. I have tested this out from a day of recording, it is a little time consuming, but worked the best way without me changing the results of what I would have written.

Filming | Music Video | Working with Si, Ozzy and Boomville

Passing the studio theatre today, I popped my head around the door to be nosy and on the off chance I knew who was filming in there. As I did so I met with Si Sturgeon, a ton of equipment and a band in the center. I was invited in and stayed the afternoon to give a hand with filming a music video with a local Leeds band called Boomville.

















Through the afternoon/evening I learnt a little more about camera set up, lighting and also working with a small group to produce a music video, which I never have worked on something like this before. I found it  interesting how each shot is layered and synced up with the music track to make sure everything runs smoothly, of which sound and image are together when edited.

I also had the opportunity to use the crane, track and dolly for the cameras, I found out how to set these up and also control these during filming. This was a valuable afternoon as I was able to put what I was taught into action. All these things techniques and skills can and will be used in my work and anything else I work on.

I enjoyed working with Si, Ozzy and the guys of Boomville, it was a great opportunity and looking forward to seeing the final video. Will post it on here when it becomes available.

Thinking About My Practice | Poster Brief | Presentation

One of my briefs as part of the course is to produce an academic poster and a 10 minute presentation alongside this to give a way of visually and verbally expressing the key components of what my practise is about. 

My poster is set out using a twitter page layout and a spoken word based performance for my presentation as a way of expressing how art, literature and the internet come together in my practice. 

Below is the poster itself, which is followed by my notes and script for my performance. 

Opening
My presentation takes the form of six chapters, much like that of a book or a Wes Anderson movie. In splitting it into six chapters I will be talking about the individual ideologies and thoughts in the way they link together, revolving around what is present on my poster, but not describing it, more of an extension of the content and my practice.

Chapter One | Twitter
Instant, formal, informal, it all depends on the way you use it.

By quoting, sharing, reliving, spreading words, both in and out of context all depends on the way you use it.

Something that transforms to the needs of an audience to keep up with every need, using images and text, keeping it short and snappy for an audience whose life of instant information and messaging through the internet has shortened attention spans.

Used as a tool to spread words,
Self edited
Unedited
Self involved,
Self dedicated,
Self promoted.
All forms of communications all depends on the way you use it.

Personal, yet corporate,
In all that you see, hear and do.
Open to all,
Those who are artists, writers, celebrities cat lovers,even pizza has a twitter account.

Twitter is all of the above and more, as a rising social network in both it's uses and number of members it is important to expand to newer things in order to promote your work and use these tools just like a paintbrush to a painter. I think twitter is the one that speaks to me and my work the most as it was created mainly to share words, and even the character limit is a form of editing as people attempt to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas in 140 characters or less.

It can be used as a tool to promote ones work, promote work and events, communicate with others of whom you wouldn't normally be able to, use it as a form of your work or research and also use it to encourage the participation of others.

Lastly the growth of Twitter and other forms of social networking and web based places has given the possibility for people to hide their true identity and speak their mind to an audience.

This form of internet use reminds me of an Oscar Wilde quote,

"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask and he will tell you the truth."

If said now this may have been said slightly differently,

"Give a person the internet and they will you the truth." 

Chapter Two | Quotes

This brings us onto 'Quotes,' as the text in twitter comes in an quotation like form and also Oscar Wilde is known not just as a writer and poet, but also for his quotes. Being someone whose work I have always admired, been inspired by and in parts influenced my love of writing I felt it was important for him to be present in my poster.

The definition of a quote is

"To repeat or copy out (words from a text or speech written or spoken by another person."

This ties directly into my piece of taking overheard conversations out of context, then placing them within quotation marks, which were printed onto paper and distributed out to a different place, situation and audience. Before these are distributed I would take them through an editing process, choosing and selecting words to be shorted or cut away. These fragments of situations have opened up future possibilities of meaning compared to closed, direct sentences.

The act of editing in writing helps to refine your way of communicating your point, but also a process that helps to remove any mistakes that may have occurred as you write out your thought development.

And now I quote to you another by Oscar Wilde,

"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes." 

Chapter Three | Experience, Exploration, Mistakes

Mistakes are just something you do in life and art, which can inform your next steps.

Ralph Steadman is known for saying,

"There is no such thing as mistakes, only further possibilities."

By removing yourself from the worries of making mistakes, you then go on to creating something new.

My work and ideas have become an extension of that of the work, themes and exploration of the Fluxus movement and specially even more so, the work of John Cage. Through playing with this element of chance that is so often present in the core of Cage's pieces, I have been able to expand my ideas and play with even more ideas around words and interaction. Yoko Ono's instruction pieces are another way of using words as direct instruction for making art, but presenting the words themselves gives further question to the role of words as the art itself.

So are the words themselves the art or is it the idea of the uses of this text?

Chapter Four | Words in Art

The Dada movement is one that embraced all types of creative forms and saw a movement which encouraged collaborations and performances between Artists, Writers, Poets, Performers and so on. In doing so gave a wider consideration for what is art.

Tracey Emin's uses of words are in more of a autobiographical sense that combines these words into her installations.

"I'm not known as a text-based artist, but I should be really. It's my words that actually make my art quite unique." 

Words are extremely important to her practice and comes in all forms, such as sewn, neon lights or hand written letters. They communicate almost directly with an audience in a visual way and within installations they can be considered as art.

This brings me onto the work of Kenneth Goldsmith, studied as an artist, known for being a writer, however his methods of working can be considered more as art, even if the results of his experimentation are that of books and spoken word performances.

Chapter Five | Practice as a Writer

Goldsmith's words are usually brought together as a result of collecting on a subject and rearranging, however not particularly edited. His work is influenced by that of John Cage's and uses the idea of chance to gather his words, ranging from recording everything he said to writing down every movement he made. This information is then compiled into a book, as a documentation surround the idea he had.

My work as a writer informs my work, my practise takes my love of words and the social and then in turn form of ways text can be presented.

Spoken word, books, poetry, lists, scripts, quotes, social networking, comments, remarks, scribbles in pen on public toilet walls.

Chapter Six | Interest in Text, Sound and Film

As art is an extension of the artist, so are their interests, passions, life experiences and opinions which in turn also informs their work.

Film has always been an interest of mine, which film processes and ideas can be found within the way I work, the visuals, set up, sound and even the writing behind it. When I found my passion for writing I started to incorporate the two, using words as instructions like a script for a film.

These may not be present all the time in my work, but it stands as the foundation of my practise.

Exhibition | 17TH INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS’ BOOK FAIR | Book Fair at The Tetley Leeds

Taken from Tetley website... 

http://thetetley.org/pages-contemporary-artists-book-fair/

17TH INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS’ BOOK FAIR

7 - 23 MARCH 2014

Public launch: Friday 7 March, 6 – 9pm ALL WELCOME
Book Fair: Saturday 8 March, 11am – 6pm and Sunday 9 March, 11am – 5pm
The Book Fair is free and open to the public. Accompanying curated projects will run from 7 – 23 March.

In partnership with PAGES, we welcome this popular fixture on Leeds’ annual art calendar to The Tetley for the first time. With exhibitions, talks, performances, and 60 exhibitors showcasing and selling some of the best new work being made, the whole building will be transformed into a celebration of the artist’s book.

Highlights will include Image>Archive<Memory, an exhibition by British-Armenian artist Karen Babayan, with performances by London-based dancer Shakeh Major Tchilingirian, and a talk by Research Professor in Curation and Art History, Lynda Morris, at the Artists’ Book Fair Dinner. See ‘Events’ pages for booking details. Stallholders at the Fair will include artists and publishers from around the UK, artists participating in A New Reality at The Tetley, Leeds-based collective Spur and Leeds’ finest independent bookstore, Village.

PAGES 2014 Artists’ Book Fair Participants

ABC artists book club / Alice Fox / Ambeck Design /AMBruno / Amelia Crouch /AP Books / Are we nearly there yet? / Art & Design, University of Leeds / Artistsbooksonline/ Batley School of Art, Fine Art for Design / Becoming Press / Café Royal Books / Camberwell College of Arts, MA Book Arts / Carla Moss / Charlotte Victoria Furness / Chris Taylor / David Barton /Ensixteen Editions /  Essence Press / Fine Art, University of Leeds / Filippa Dobson / Ghosts Publications / Incline Press / Interdisciplinary Art and Design, Leeds College Art / Jane Cradock-Watson / Jane Hyslop / Joan Ainley / Joanna Wilkinson /John Barrett / John McDowall / Karoline Rerrie / Kim Bevan / Kristine Steele / Leeds City College / Leeds College of Art: BA Visual Communication / Louise Atkinson / Mandy Brannan / Mr Smith / New Arcadian Press / Old Bear Press / PagePaperStitch / PAPER / Pat Hodson / Pink Parrot Press / PJB Editions / F. J. Ratchford Ltd. / Roncadora Press / Sandra Whyles / Shaeron Caton-Rose / Sheffield Hallam University MA Fine Art / and Guerrilla Writers / Stef Mitchell / Surrealist Editions / The Caseroom Press / Theresa Easton / Thomas Tomasska / University of Central Lancashire: Drawing and Image Making / Victoria Lucas / Weproductions / whnicPRESS / Wild Pansy Press / A New Reality artists and collaborators  (Joe Gilmore, Aidan Moesby and Nous Vous with Spur, Village Book Store and Catalogue)

Special Events

Nicky Bird
Saturday 8 March, 2-3pm
Question for Seller – the re-emergence of the photographic archive in artists’ books. Dr Nicky Bird will be discussing her artistic interventions with museum archives and the impulse to rescue other people’s unwanted photographs.

Lynda Morris
Saturday 8 March, 7-10pm
Unconcealment: Prospect 68, A book from 46 years ago and the knowledge it represents
Artists’ Book Fair Dinner
Booking required.

The following exhibitions continue until Sunday 23rd March:

Karen Babayan: Image>Archive<Memory
An exploration of trans-continental family histories through collective storytelling and the photographic archive with performances by Shakeh Major Tchilingirian.

The Card Index as Writing Machine
An exhibition of artists’ books and related works of literature and music which use the manifold possibilities of gathering, arrangement, selection and rearrangement of the index card as creative procedure. Curated by John McDowall.

The Imaginary Museum
Referencing the book of the same title by Andre Malraux, invited artists respond to the notion of ‘archive’ through the multiple format of the postcard. Curated by Louise Atkinson.

AMBruno: Book Act
Artist book-makers perform and embody the concept of essence of their book through the medium of film. Project initiated by Sophie Loss.

Sara MacKillop: Extended Range
The form of the book itself and the relationship we all entertain with paper and its materiality, particularly through the mundane interactions with objects of administration, provide a rich source for the artist’s minimalist comments on everyday life.

Oliver Griffin: “To who that it may concern”
Artifacts that play with the idea of the ‘typology and the uses of the archive’, most commonly within a photographic relationship.

Keep Talking So I Can Keep Working by Silvia Champion

A piece where the artist records overheard conversations openingly by requesting people to talk through the title of the piece. A performance piece involving audience interaction in order to create work.

New Work Consideration | Next Step

After the success in the exhibition with the presentation of the overheard conversations and feeling that I have finally come to the end of a project I have decided to step away from these and try something new. I feel that at the moment I am a artist who has used text in her work, rather than being a text based artist. Not that this would be a problem, but I just have so much more to explore within text and language, that I feel now is the time to move on.

My idea is to move onto the idea of way words are collected and then ways they are presented. Much like the work of Kenneth Goldsmith who collects words in his work under a certain subject, more so his documentation of recording every movement he made. This was then developed into a book, this whole idea of words belonging in books, however what he has put into a book isn't necessarily considered as poetry or any other form of literature. He prints these books, more as a collection of words, people can choose to read them or not just as they would with any other book.

My idea is to create two books that contrast and reflect on two ways of recording.

Book One - Everything I write in two weeks

The idea of this book is record everything I write in two weeks, including but not limited to lists, notes, Facebook messages, articles and so on. The idea is have a series of writing that equals to the volume and word count of a book or novel. However does this still remain a book if I am collecting unconnected pieces of writing and stringing them together without editing or making a structure of the content? Even when I put these words onto paper and into the form and shape of a book would this be enough or how much does the content really matter? It's like the idea of going shopping, is the walking you did throughout the day considered as a hike/walk even if the distance is equal to that of a walk you may set out to do? Not particularly because the aim is the shopping not the walking, but you did the distance. I see this the same as writing lists, text messages, emails, the everyday writing that has a direct purpose, but shear volume is equivalent to a book over time.

Book Two - Words I find

This book involves me not writing my own words or ideas, but that of what I find. The other day I found this note left for the owner of Bay 2 from Bay 3. It got me thinking about imaging the story behind this note and many more notes that may have been dropped and if they were even seen by the people they were meant for. The idea of this book is to contain images of each found text left in the street, leaving the interpretation up to the viewer, but also showing each piece as a photograph rather than typed up as it leaves the character and personal aspect in the notes that were left. This gives you more idea on the tone of the note or writing also.






























The next step for this project is to keep collecting for both of the books, it will require time and experimenting on layouts and presentation. It may not be finished before the end of the brief, but whats the rush, this needs to be tested, more words need to be found and more thinking to be done about it.

Exhibition | Open Closet at Lamberts Yard | Leeds College of Art Level 5 End of Year Show

The day of the Open Closet exhibition opening is here and the private view over. This evening was important for me to document both written and through photographs of people's response to my work. Looking at how they interacted, did they see it? did they say it out loud? what did they do with them? and so on. All for the purpose of understanding how an audience response to the works, especially as they are temporary works just like something overheard, you may not hear it again. This being the case, the work won't be present in the space for the weekend after the private view.

The exhibition was so busy I found it very hard to document, I was limited to being one person in a sea of people with a camera, the documentation was very small, I got a few photographs of people finding and reading the text. The best documentation I got was the stories people told me after the exhibition revolving around the handouts.

















Georgia told me that she was curious what the others said and this made her want to collect them in a way like you would collect pokemon cards. I quite liked this idea of people collecting and swapping found conversations. Another response was that people didn't see them as they fell out of the leaflet, this led to a pool of them on the floor which I witnessed others trying to rescue them from being trampled on. I heard a group having a conversation with each other using the handouts as prompts. And others doing what some of them said like instructions. It got a mix of responses from people some being throwaway and others wanting to collect every word.

Later that evening I received a tweet using one of the handouts to communicate with me which I loved. By taking these seemingly random sections of conversations and placing them in a gallery space for an audience to find, I have sparked responses that take the words into new meaning, which people have shaped into their own. This has shown me that I need to take my work out more often and let it be interacted with and only then will it become what I hoped to achieve.

Twitter link (Sophie)

@PaisleyJBoyd Where are you? pic.twitter.com/rYUCIjOklT
— Sophie M (@CleverlyPlanned) March 6, 2014

Published Writing | Film | Nymphomaniac – an odyssey in two parts (For Leeds Student News)

My review of Nymphomaniac Volume 1 & 2, written for Leeds Student News, printed in the 07/03/2014 issue of LSi. The original can be found here.

Image: Zentropa Entertainments

Being someone who hasn’t seen a Lars Von Trier film, my expectations going in to Nymphomaniac (Volumes 1 AND 2) were based purely on what I had heard about him and the publicity surrounding this film. The plot is pretty much exactly what the name suggests, but not in the way that I had imagined. I originally thought Nymphomaniac was essentially going to be porn with, perhaps, a bit of a story. However, the balance between the sex and the plot levelled out nicely against my expectations; this film is not just all shock factor for the sake of being shocking.

The story of self diagnosed nymphomaniac Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is cleverly told as a story to an older man, who finds her beaten in an alleyway at the start of the film. Upon asking her the question of how she came to be there he opens up a Pandora’s box of stories depicting her life, sexual experiences and the questioning of whether she is truly a terrible person. These stories are triggered by her talks with Seligman (Stellan Skarsgård) as he prompts her with key words as she sits in his home with a cup of tea.

Set out in two Volumes, the first in five chapters and the second in three, the story is divided into various thoughts and ideas. Volume One was interesting, tragic and comical at the same time, following various stages of Joe’s life. The appearance of Uma Thurman as Mrs H saw one of the most dark yet funny moments in the film as she drags children into a house to show them a “Whoring bed”. As Volume One comes to a sudden end, there’s no question over watching volume two Volume Two; you have started so you must finish. For me it was a matter of wondering how on earth this film will end.

Volume Two saw an even darker dive into Joe’s life that felt like it wouldn’t pick up as it spiralled down to the last moments. Jamie Bell gives a wonderful yet chilling performance as K in the S&M scenes, a character which you won’t forget easily. The second Volume didn’t hold up as well compared to the first and it started to drag its feet, which begs the question of whether this film was a little too long. One thing everyone seems to be talking about in relation to Nymphomaniac is Shia Labeouf, whose performance shocked audiences in a bad way; being a recurring character I expected better from whoever was to play Jerome. Was Shia Labeouf a good casting choice? In short no, not at all. His accent was so bad it made you wish you could mute the sound just to avoid it. At points it became a laughing stock in the cinema. As a recurring character you just can’t avoid him, but mercifully, thanks to the running time of both parts, he doesn’t actually take up too much screen time.

Ultimately Nymphomaniac is both very good and very bad at the same time, both in style and content; it was truly thought provoking in parts, in others it was extremely funny. It had moments that stunned the audience into silence. Not an easy film to watch at all, but it pushes a lot of boundaries in a risky subject very well, making it a film definitely worth watching.

Published Writing | Film | The Book Thief – Nazi Germany, as told by death (For Leeds Student News)

My review of The Book Thief written for Leeds Student News. The original can be found here.

Image: Fox 2000 Pictures

Film adaptations of books are always a tricky one, especially when it comes to something like the Book Thief. It’s one of those much loved international best-sellers by Markus Zusak, and most people have at least heard of it. Personally I haven’t read the book; I only remember the cover image of the character seemingly representing Death. I went into this film knowing nothing about it, with only the brown stained book cover and the film poster of the young girl clutching a red bound book in my mind.

The story follows a young girl Liesel during World War II Germany, and reflects on the horrors of the war through the eyes of child innocents. While the streets are filled with rallies and book burnings, Liesel finds hope in stealing books and reading them in secret. It is a tense film of fear, loss and friendship during Nazi occupied Germany, as Liesel’s adopted parents help Max, a Jewish Refugee hiding in their basement. Narrated by Death himself, this film is shadowed by the idea that no one is safe and, as the story progresses, this becomes more and more apparent.

The film does well in balancing the fears and horrors of the situation alongside the hope created within each character. Seen through the eyes of children, The Book Thief follows a similar format to that of the Boy with the Striped Pyjamas; both feature child innocents during the Second World War and follow the development of an unlikely friendship that causes them to question the situation and the actions of others. Despite its subject matter it has real moments of joy and laughter. These especially with the character of Rudy, a young boy who is the ideal image of Nazi Germany but who doesn’t hold back with his dislike for the situation.

The Book Thief is a heartfelt story, with a soundtrack to match, it will make you will laugh, cry and even shudder. Don’t let the cinematic trailer voiceover put you off, this film is worth a watch.

Exhibition Consideration | Overheard Conversation Collection | The finish product

The exhibition piece is finished and just in time as the private view starts in less than an hour. It wasn't a lack of organisation or waiting to the last minute that caused this. It was predicted and carefully timed so that the few days we had to set up the exhibition would be finalised midday of the private view as we had a short access time to the space before hand.

The exhibition handout and my work was set up a few weeks before so that when it came to this day Liam and I would make the final changes to the layout on the map, which would then be printed, folded and my work slotted in to be transported to the space within a four hour deadline. This was tight, but working with Liam meant that we could organise our time efficiently, this involved good communication, team work and the ability to work under pressure in completing this professionally.  

These have now been placed around the exhibition space and I look forward to documenting peoples responses to the text within.

Exhibition Consideration | Overheard Conversation Collection | Typing up amount

Today saw me typing up 150 A5 handouts to be slotted into the exhibition leaflet. The size and paper was determined because of how clearly presented it would be and hidden in the leaflet, slotting in nicely to go unseen until it is opened.

The process of typing these up took around 3/4 hours, each typed by hand as the type writer allowed me to create 150 unique and personal pieces. It involved me taking an edited overheard conversation from my book of recordings, centering the paper so that the collection of words land directly into the middle, keeping the pieces consistent, especially if anyone is to get more than one to compare them. It also made good use of the space on the paper. Once each one is typed, I placed into a pile. This then goes onto the next stage of slotting them into the exhibition leaflet, when this is printed and folded on the day.

Exhibition Consideration | Overheard Conversation Collection | Editing Words

The next step to think about when doing this overheard pieces is the sentences themselves. A previous discussion I had before was that some of the sentences worked much better than the others. The reason being that some of the sentences were closed and meant that they weren't open for interpretation.

So this time round I decided to choose each sentence and edit it in order to keep them open. For example instead of being written down as "you can go down that arcade there by the ally way," to "you can go." That is just one example, simply by taking away some words I have completely changed the meaning. This requires more work, but is getting there.