FMP Supporting Statement

For my final piece I have constructed a copper frame, from which is hung curtains, that can be open and drawn to divide the space of the public gallery. I think that this piece has fulfilled my initial intentions as it is the result of extensive research and consideration, my main focus in this project. I view this line of research as something that I wish to continue with. 
Initially my research was primarily focused on the domestic sphere and interior design, however it evolved to place more emphasis on the division between public and private, where it lies, how it is enforced. With political significance, looking at metaphors of political transparency. 
The most helpful form of research that I undertook was reading essays, and interviews with artists. Through these forms I learnt much more about the political dimension of private and public interaction. 
My main experimentation with media took place when developing my frames; I went through a range of materials before I settled on copper pipes as the most appropriate medium with which to realise my piece. 
For this final major project my main focus was placed on research, therefore my time was divided with more of an emphasis on reading and enquiry. As a result I spent slightly less time that usual on physical making, and therefore I would like to continue to produce things, based on this line of exploration, in the future as I now have many un-realised ideas of pieces to produce. However I think that for me this research heavy approach was important at this time and has set me up to perhaps produce a body of work based on this enquiry. 
I believe that my main success with this piece was producing with materials that contributed to and reflected my research and ideas. 
In retrospect I would have liked to have spent more time producing designs for the two curtains that I had digitally printed as I think that they could have been stronger and should have complimented each other more. I also would have liked the structure to be more stable, so that people could more confidently interact with the piece. I would like to create this piece again in the future, bigger scale and taking these latter two points into consideration. 
To evaluate the development of my work in the last six weeks I been responding to continual criticism and advice from friends, tutors and my dad.  A main and part unexpected source for evaluation has been the practical problems that I faced when making the frame. I continually analysed the effect of the different materials and structural configurations, being highly self-critical in order to push my piece to its best. 

Conclusion

Lessons learnt >
>Plan final piece in more detail sooner + order digital prints sooner to avoid rushed decisions and stress.
>Err on the side of pessimism rather than optimism when it comes to structures and stability.

In general I am very happy with how this final major project has gone. I feel that my research has gone particularly well and I think that I now have a much a clearer understanding of my interests, where my work sits in the scheme of things and where it might go in the future. I think that the ideas identified in this project are ones that I will continue to pursue. In particular I wish to look at the work of Liam Gillick in more depth and continue to gain understanding of both sides of the argument in regards to transparency and public and private division. 
In regards to my final piece, I am pleased with the outcome, and think it has potential to be developed further. In the future I would like to make a huge version filling a whole room. I would also like to try different tape headers so that only the rings are visible and not the tape itself. Most importantly if it was to do something similar in the future I would pay more attention to the deadline and give myself more time to develop textile designs, as I think that they could have been stronger for this piece, and that is my main regret. However I view this project as a success as it has left me feeling excited to continue my research and develop my work in this strain. 

Final Piece Completed

Curtain Decision

I chose to use the patterned fabric instead of the plain blue one as the latter was to see-through which went against the purpose of the curtains as a dividing mechanism. I am not entirely happy with the combination of the two prints however and I think that if I were to develop the piece in the future I would give more time and consideration to the textile designs.

Printed Curtains

Above - photographs of the final curtains that I had to make with the printed fabric. I am not sure whether I want to include both printed fabrics on my structure - I don't know whether they will go together, and I feel that they could possibly be too much, perhaps less is more? I therefore have made a plain blue curtain that I might use instead of the printed fabric with the red circles. I am finding it hard to visualise how it will work, I will have to hang up Both and see what it looks like to make the decision.

Construction

^ Above - images of the final piece in construction. I erected the central core of the structure first - Glueing all the joints in place with 'liquid metal' glue that I got from Halfords. >

I then glued the two horizontal attachments, but leaving free one joint each so I could detach these extra legs to add the final two curtains when they were ready.

The structure (although not wobble free) is much more stable  after the glueing which I am relieved about, however I think that if I was to produce it again or something similar I would have to give greater thought to this aspect so that it can be a  truly interactive and high quality piece.

The last image shows a tryout of the photograph with the structure. I really thought that this would work however in practise I think that it looks like a very last minute and unnecessary addition. I thought that it would make the context of the piece clearer, however I think that the title, which I decided would be the title from the essay by Mark Fenster, which greatly influenced the piece - Seeing the State: Transparency as Metaphor - was enough to this. I believe that the piece will look stronger as it is.

Digital Printing

^Above - The two designs I have chosen to digitally print and produce as curtains for the final piece. I think that they both relate to important aspects of the context of my piece, and steps in the development of this project.