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.
