Final Major Project - Proposal

Review Progress and Achievement

My motive for selecting this foundation year was to explore and experiment with diverse forms and mediums of art, allowing me to discover where I belong in the wider context of the art world today. This underlying purpose has driven me to produce a successful body of work throughout Stages 1 and 2 of the course, with particularly strong progress being made towards the end of the last project ‘Here and Now’. Here I made the important self discovery of how to incorporate music and digital mediums (e.g. film) into my work. Whereas before in the Fine Art pathway I felt more obliged to produce work that could be viewed on a canvas such as paintings or drawings, I now feel more confident in my ability to work with less conventionally ‘Fine Art’ based materials. This has informed my decision to pursue a final major project with an initial concentration on photography and exploration of digital platforms, while possibly expanding my previous studies into sound and video. I am anticipating this will enhance - but not strictly limit - my final major project.

Project Concept

Today it appears to me that the most conventionally popular way masks are used in art is in ancient studies, with displays of African and Japanese masks being the most appreciated and widespread form of art. However, after initially researching into practitioners such as John Stezaker and Gillian Wearing who, although different styles of artists, use masks in dissimilar ways to create and influence their art, I am inspired to try and reach beyond the most obvious way of using a mask in art today. To me it is important that for this project it is realised that a mask is not only a physical object placed over the face to conceal or change an appearance, but can present itself in many different forms, including non physical means such as for example a masked personality belonging to an individual. I am interested not only in the actual mask that is put in place, but the effect this has in a broader context in society, as masking and labelling are hugely relevant and important concepts that exist in the setting of different social groupings today. There exists a relation between stereotypes/attitudes and masking today that force many people to conceal or alter parts of their physical and mental self. Therefore, through my artwork I wish to explore topics such as identity, escapism and disguise, exploring what is behind the mask or exterior, and what drives the need for a mask to exist in the first place. Not only is it therefore important to me to ensure my artwork reaches out on a personal level to the intended audience, but that the intention of questioning the need for masks in society is clearly communicated through my final piece in an exhibition space. I would love for my work to be fully immersive either visually or physically, and therefore have a desire to explore interactive art as a possibility for adding a third dimension to my project realisation, without wanting to pre-conceive any final decisions as to hinder the fullest exploration of my topic.

Evaluation

Through the continued use of my blog, I plan to be vigilant in written reflections to allow for the most successful progression of work. I want to ensure that I am not only evaluating my work, but my time management, reflected in my work production and completion of a tasks organised in my time plan. Not only will I be writing weekly evaluations but taking constant note of thoughts and idea development in notebooks and sketchbooks. My research along with idea development will be recorded and reflected upon across both my blog and sketchbook work, as I recognise the importance of being able to evidence a range of reference material.