Poem “on the edge”
Exhibition, “It’s Not Just Black and White” The worn bone, fluctuations and difference in DNA cannot be seen from the exterior. The shifting shadows reveal the ever changing conditions of invisible disabilities.
Methylation:
Methylation
There are complexities in invisible disabilities: figures collapsing from a seated position, uses different clay bodies to convey the many conditions represented by POTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome) and EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome). Using firsthand knowledge as tool and motivation, this work is to raise awareness of how disability is not an end but rather a strength that can be drawn upon.
Inside Out 2
making
DNA:
I’ve been researching lots of books such as Barnes and Mercers into disability and also medical journals about DNA and Methylation and its effects on DNA.
Sketch of DNA, ideas of creating in acrylic but with the figures representing different individuals I’ve also decided to make woman as in the DNA , EDS woman are far more likely to have EDS 50% of woman carrying down their genes.
I Designed spacers for my piece and had to redesign the size a few times due to re -design of internal structure and strength to make free standing design of “inside out” which took a lot of technical research and working with specialists to resolve issues which i came across whilst designing.
later cutting pieces for DNA, I decided to not put this piece in the show as I
felt it diluted the strength of the main pieces of the show.
PDP/C.V
Summertive Presentation
My Exhibition – ” It’s not just Black and White
This exhibition is about invisable disability and making the invisable visible for others to see.
Inside Out 1, 2 and 3
Inside Out 1
This sculpture is an expression of bone, spine, I am using the familiar recognition of the body, the materials , porcelain, royal and Parian which has a strong resemblance to create this sculpture. I haveused these to encourage empathy and engagement.
As it is a well known fact that through much research that people do not naturally empathise with disabilities unless they have a direct knowledge and experience ( ref to writer) Barnes and mercer.?
Inside Out 2
This sculpture depicts DNA, it is made up of the figures, in acrylic, bright nearly luminous, with ceramic figure hanging from it. Many invisable disabilities are genetic, I have used the vibrant acrylic to show energy, orange and green for the symbolism of chakras orange being the solar plexus from the region of gestation and umbilical cord, the green with the heart the main central pumping system of the body and how we attach are emotions figuratively.
Dissertation
New dissertation Link to Document Dissertation :
Exploring Identification of Visual and Written Research, Regarding Disability.
Dissertation Reflection
PDP Link to Document
Field Formative 2017
Notes for Exhibition
DNA -spine
Meaning
Bone , spine , DNA , unstable, motion,
Cartalidge, invisible spacers , one figure different to the others , orange, represents solar plexus, connected to umbilical cord , genetics conditions, orange symbolism of connection to family , birth
Visually
52 pieces which link to my age
Hanging , suspensions, not supported, flexible, incorporating light,
Technical
How to hang, supported from what? Screw thread and bolts , light from what , how , make spacers , thread, plinth underneath ? Not touching , see someone about suspension? Matt, Natasha?
How it reads/viewed
Looks bone like , spine , DNA Helics, purity as white, aesthetically pleasing , piece in own right , light and movement
Collapsing figures
X2
Small one meaning
Looks normal then collapses
Invisible to visible (disability) spine like body and bone , human form to relate to, empathy , show workings to invoke understanding of how it works
Interpretation, visually look
Small , figure, just white, dissected, stratospheres, elasticated, collapse, stand up, thing may be more complex than first sight?
Technical
Trial elastic, spring, or wind up figure, base , mechanism, acrylic , show workings , how to display , plinth? Instruction manual . Recovery position , educational- postcard-leaflet
How viewed
Toy like connecting to play, recognise figure,
Medical, scientific. Aesthetic piece
No 2 big one
Visual
Dissected human form
Orange spinal discs fragmented, spinal no in sections , c1,c2 etc
Made into stacking toy
Oversized pill , list of drugs, prescription, wall chart , colour chart info leaflet
Technical
Hight , spacing of pieces, base of drugs , on Acylic rod,
Seen, viewed
Scientific, play, fragile , shocking ,
Hand held
Meaning
Movement , playfulness, simplicity, mechanical, industrial, handle, what on and handle give accessibility and permission soon to interact with sculpture , comfortable or uncomfortable?
Visually
Exercise spring, sequenced swimmers , dancers , on table ? Plinths , how accessible?
Signs symbols , use symbols distort meaning , accessibility crossed out Simone standing in chair?
Technical
Make handles out of Acylic to keep continuity, think colour or clear?
How they join is important attach well
Similar to skipping rope elastic noted and Acylic handle
How it’s seen
Curiosity, exploration, fear of breaking , unnerving, exhilarating , should u touch ? Expectation, permission do I have or not !
Chair
Figures collapsing off chair unable to stay on it
Relationship, supportive looking but not able to support body falling off ,
Colour of chair, pink happy upbeat , not serious, standard, body not upbeat
Chair represent how like to be seen instead of collapsing
Visually look like
Pink plastic average , cheap, trying to be upbeat nothing special not to serious easy to communicate , girly , not posh or expensive,,institution, pink self exeptance
Technical
Make loads of figure , pre construct sections , fire once full kiln before Easter
Acylic architecture structure
How reads
Falling collapsing, juxta position , collaborative
Day to day object
Messy? Uncomfortable, upsetting tutors , acceptable or not?
Parliament and my experience.
These are a couple of pictures of the St Mary Undercroft , the Chapel in Parliament which is private and used for the placing of ex prime ministers bodies before thier funerals, and special state occasions.
The main thing that impressed me was the plaque that Tony Benn placed in the broom cupboard to commemorate Emily Wilding Davison who hid herself illegally during the night of the 1911 census campaigning for votes for woman , she believed if she could hide all night she would then have to be recognised as living in the houses of commons. she died of injuries in June 1913 under the King’s horse at Epsom.
This woman has always been a hero of mine since a young girl and i felt honoured to be able to stand where she stood but also find that in politics these days how sad that world leaders are being so short sighted to treat woman in poor and denigrating way making me wonder how much still needs to be done in a world of injustice.
The other thing that stuck me was the exquisite workmanship that was done so many years ago in 1297, and looks incredible today.
it must be an inspiration to any crafts person today with such a high skill level of finish and intricate detail which was almost made me breathless to see.
In terms of how this has influenced my work , I have become less insular and considering and learning far more about how we engage as a nation and make rule, how politics is part of our life but we tend to disconnect and place blame rather than engaging more and learning to influence those practices.
I feel my work can have a voice, and it is important how I represent myself and others. Who and what I am talking about can have an influence. Writing can become a part of my creative voice and I feel my dissertation has influenced my work and visa-versa. which came about with the piece “are you alone or joining the party”. I intend to make some more pieces which are more politically influenced and have been granted a bursary to help fund my cost of materials for this from the Patricia Penn award.
Rach Wellbeing 