Text ideas

I've been a bit stumped for concepts to work with. I don't usually have a method without a concept, so I'm a bit stuck. The only solid idea I have is the one about human desire - wanting to accomplish things, or wanting to change something about ourselves - deciding to do it - but also not wanting to at the same time. Not doing it.

These are some of the odd notes I made while researching - highlighted are the ones I'm going to explore more.


make menacing things look pretty - "wolf in sheeps clothing"

Contradictions in human desires

- make things and then BREAK things (both physically and also promises, with yourself or otherwise)

- I vow not to do it but then I do it anyway

- for no reason other than that I can

- not that I should, but...

people are pretty scary

professions of love in out of place places

fear of success
'Vertigo is the conflict between the fear of falling and the desire to fall'  (secondary idea)

For the actual text I've considered a few methods. As we'll be displaying in a gallery space I know it will be going on a white wall... I don't think the floor would suit this idea, it would be too out of place, however I would have to consider at what height I want to place it, whether I want it aligned centrally, or to the right or left, and how far along the wall. 

Spray painting onto a window using a stencil was an idea I had originally entertained - a window because glass would be the easiest to clean afterwards. 

I've since been inspired by letter pressing used in printmaking, which is basically a stamp that you fit with letters to customise your own sentences and paragraphs. Using the cardboard I would have used to make the stencil I could craft my own large scale letter press. I have already trialed this with a single letter onto some clear contact - which happens to work really well.

black acrylic paint

first print

should be more conscious of what side I'm putting paint on.

second

the effect is a bit rough due to the texture of the cardboard, but I quite like it - I think it fits better than spray painting for this one.

Mobstr - contradiction

You're not really intelligent and cultured, I see what the sign is telling you to do.

[link]

'Wall Piece With 200 Letters', Mikko Kiorinki

"From march 2010 until february 2011 I formed one new text on the wall of Kiasma museum every week."
[link]




1 out of 44 different texts.

From what I can tell each of them were a quote. This one is apparently from a poem by Joe Brainard (1971), but I like it because it is informal.

'I Am What I Am', Tercerunquinto, 2008

This is bold for a number of reasons. 1) words, 2) all caps, 3) cutting holes in walls

Neon Signs

Bethan Hews








 Tim Etchells [link]


Fluorescent lighting is frequently used among artists - I can't say since when. It's just something I've noticed is very common in contemporary art.
It's not something I ca achieve at the moment, but particularly in a darkened setting, or a more natural setting like the last image it is a lovely material.

Note - mid concept development

I think I definitely want to work with text for this project. I like the art form. I’ve always really liked words – and this is a way to get the ideas out there without having to write a full novel or article.

While I'm researching all these different artists who are working with text I'm beginning to appreciate the variety of emotion that can be communicated with a certain font, the size, shape, angle, layout, or the environment in which the text is placed.

e.g.



Stefan Bruggemann, Make Me, 2010

distress, urgency - perhaps panic. The repetition, overlapping, and lack of finesse change the way the words are read

Tracey Emin

These are more heartfelt and poetic. Some of them even come across as love letters - there's a definite emotion in these.