I knew that I wanted to focus on the domestic for this final major project, > [initial archive post - Elements of the domestic appear in my work consistently since GCSE level. I have never directly or consciously addressed it, but I feel it has been an almost subconscious, underlying element of my practise. It think it is vital therefore, for me to explore the use of the domestic within art with the aim of analysing what it is about the private sphere and domestic design that fascinates me] However I had not yet done focused research or analysis into this area. Artists that I had been most recently looking at included Matthew Darbyshire and Isa Genzken, who both, at least in part, dealt with ideas of consumer taste and lifestyle aspiration. Initially I thought that it might be this that interested me also, so this piece is a quick attempt to deal with this. I was thinking about the idea of sets as a form of contrived, temporary space. I particularly looked at the following four artists in relation to this > Ulla Van Brandenburg >
I also used curtains as a way to create a temporary space that was not convincing as a viable domestic interior.
Seydou Keita > Samuel Fosso > Malick Sidibe
The latter three are photographers who create sets as the backdrop for often staged portrait photography. All were working through periods of cultural change and in all a focus on these new cultural elements, with particular influence from the West, are evident. Malick Sidibe, for example, worked prominently in the 50s, 60s and 70s, and documented the transitional movement as Mail gained its independence and transformed from a French colony steeped in tradition, to a more modern independent country looking towards the West.
This seems relevant to the idea of consumer taste and aspiration, and I reference this influence through my choice of chequered flooring in my piece, often used by these artists.
I linked a video camera to the television and pointed it at the set, with the effect that when a person entered the piece they would see themselves inhabiting the space on the television. This was quite a gimmicky and obvious reference to advertisement and aspiration which I do not think works particularly well, and I do not view this a successful piece as it stands. However I think it was effective as initial stimulation and has helped to realise that it is perhaps not this aspect of the domestic that interests me, promoting me to launch myself into much deeper and more diverse research which has really helped the development of this project. So a success in in its failure perhaps.
