Final project

After seeing all the video installations and projects I've talked about so far I really got into the idea of doing something similar. A video that is created in response to a certain space, that will be influenced by it but at the same time influence the space as well. I know that before being able to start working on the project, I first needed to find the space. So I started thinking about warehouses and similar spaces that I could use. The obvious one in Coventry was Fargo Space, a warehouse on Far Gosford street that is used for art exhibitions and performances. Then I've gone off the idea, as I'd like to use a space that is not designated for art, but that I could use like this. Then I remembered a space that I noticed since my first year; the wall and its surroundings under the ring road next to the university library. It really appealed to me, and I always wanted to see something projected or exhibited onto it. So this got me thinking that I could use such a space under the Ring Road. After seeing Nick and discussed this idea with him, I got to speaking with Sam, who has accompanied me in all the gallery visits done lately and who really helped me rationalize what I'm thinking and getting my ideas out. He is a graduate from an art course, so he talked to me about my final project from a graduate's point of view. He pointed out that I should take advantage of the opportunity of being in University and having access to equipment and facilities, and produce something for my final project that I could use as an example of my work after I graduate. I want to get into producing films that would be integrated into performing arts, which is a very niche area. Because I've only done two such projects so far, that had minimal creative input from me, it would be wise to produce something for my final project to show that I can actually do that. So now I am very torn between doing the project with the ring road that I came up with not long ago, but got excited about, and something that would be helpful to my career outside university. It's not the best place to be but it's better than having no ideas.

Gallery and installation thoughts - final project

I though I would make a post about what I feel that I've gained from the visits to galleries and video installations in the last couple of weeks. I written something about all of them in individual posts, but I feel a wide conclusion is needed. The main idea that i got from all the installations I've seen is that the space where the screening is taking place is crucial. I decided I don't want to produce a film for my final project, that will go on a DVD for the assessors to see and mark. I want to make something out of it. I want to use a space, and respond to it with the medium of video. Produce something that works with it, that is produce as a response to the space, and by having the video there changes the space. I really liked the Beaconfields gallery, that was under a viaduct of a train; the space was completely dark when going inside, and it had the smell of a damp cellar. The roughness of the space worked really well with the screening, and the screening worked very well in that space. The other instalation that I experienced and really enjoyed was the 'Pitchfork Disney Pre-Show' which included some of my videos. The venue was a warehouse that was very flexible in terms of what rooms could be used and in what way. The producers of the theatre piece created a route that the visitors had to go through that would contain hints from the show that would later be mentioned in the performance. Click here to go to post and video about this.

CSAD Degree show

At the degree show that is ending today there have been two exceptional video pieces that really stood out, both from fine art students. The first was a video of an unknown person, dancing between some plastic sheets that were hanging from the ceiling. At points it became very abstract when the person was out of the shot and the only thing I could see were the sheets moved by wind (probably a fan). The video was projected in a dark room, and at the entrance there were some bells hanged down from the ceiling on thick thread. The medium of the video was obvious, as the hanging bells created shadows on the screen. The viewer was emerged into the video as the setting of the seating area was very much like the setting of the video. This made the space and time of the video and the present being of the person watching merge, and seem as one. The other video piece that stood out was a video installation of an old cartoon, that was very racist to black people. Of course at the time it didn't appear to be so, because then people didn't have the knowledge of racism that we do today. This doesn't mean that the piece didn't have impact back then, on the contrary, that animation is part of what started building up racist ideologies. The center piece of the installation was the fact that the film was projected on a sheet of paper at the back of the room, and the artist has cut a square in the middle of the sheet, so at the front of the room there was an abstract small and square film. The decision to do has two meanings for me. One where by only watching the abstract film, completely detached from the original, it seems to be aesthetic and interesting to watch visually. But when put in context with the original, you realize that the back story and bigger picture raise important ethical issues. So the artist seems to be making a comment on people not thinking about the background and issues surrounding a piece/film they are watching. In a way suggesting that we need to be meta and generally more mindful about the things we watch. The second meaning I got from this is that the artist might be making a comment on the idea of abstract film, implying that abstract film can be problematic if we don't consider the implications of the issues they raise; here one could watch the abstract piece that was cut out from the original and not think anything about it, other than it is visually interesting.

Pitchfork Disney - performance

Last week I filmed and photographed Pitchfork Disney, a very odd and dark theatre piece. It was quite chalenging because of the low light, but it was easier to photograph than other ones as the lights didn't change throughout the piece, so I didn't have to change the settings on the camera before every shot.

ONE.THREE by Fish Bowl - Dance Performance

This week I had a dance piece to film and photograph as well. Quie prowd of my turnaround. Pictures were published on the same day as the performance and the video the next day. I love photographing dance pieces because of the lighting. And the center piece of this peticular performance was the light. Maddy who produed the piece is doing light design for her degree show, so this was the main piece and she has another 6 to do, so emphasizing the use of light in these pictures was crucial. I think I was successful in doing it. She is very happy with the pictures which is all that matters

Coventry National Picket

Unfortunately I couldn't make it to London or Birmingham for the national strike because I couldn't get the equipment I wanted from MLS, and I didn't want to go on my own with a big camera like Z5.

Still I went to the Coventry one and I was actually impressed; a lot more people out there than expected. I managed to get few shots of them standing outside the institution they were working. At 10 they all gathered at the Cathedral steps and at 10:30 the march started. I found it quite ironic that on the last march in London they managed to close down Whitehall street for the demonstration, but for this one they had to walk on the pavement (overly) supervised by the police and demonstration stewards.

No one had problems with me filming, everyone was either waving at the camera, or flashing the signs they were carrying.

At the end everyone gathered in front of the Council House and there were several speeches. I only managed to film two of them as there were delays and I had to return the equipment to MLS.

MassObs No more death in custody

We got around to do the edit in the past three weeks. I think it went really well at least for Jenny and me, even though we had the biggest number of videos to edit. As we were the 'last ones standing'. As it was a mass observation type of filming therefore not much editing was required; we only added the photo of the victim, the title of the person interviewed and then the interview. These were mostly from the speeches in front of Downing Street, but we also had few interviews with campaigners. Here's an example of one from each category:

Demetre Frazer's Mother

Kwobena 'Scientist' Kimathi - Campaigner

Kwobena 'Scientist' Kimathi from Stephagen on Vimeo.

We didn't get to upload all the videos as we are currently restricted by the Vimeo account we have, but that should get sorted out soon.

We didn't have any major problems with filming, editing or exporting so I think our team worked very well.

Next step will be to publish the website with all the videos embedded. From what I understand from our lecturers, and from my experience of mass obs web pages ours will be rather innovative; There will be two main pages with photos that will act like buttons. On the front page we'll have the photos of all the people who passed away in police custody and when clicked the video of the interview of the family member/friend will come up for details of the case. The second page will be for the supporters / campaigners which will act in a similar way, when clicking on the picture of the interviewed the video will pop out.

The website will be used in press releases and as a means of raising awareness of the issues raised so quite a lot of pressure for us to deliver a quality product. The content is more important than the aesthetics of the website and videos, but still design is important. It needs to be user friendly and accessible to all users.

MAke>shift 2011

The MA Dance students held their performances on a Saturday and I was asked to photograph them. It was such a nice experience running around from a performance to the other and go home inbetween for a break and to edit the pictures. This project is one of my prides so far, as I edited and delivered the pictures to the 5 performers on the same day at their afterparty.

I believe that in this industry you need to be as fast and professional as possible, and to keep the 'client' if you wish, happy as in any other industries. With photography is just a bit harder now because anyone who has 500 pounds can get a DSLR and call themselves a photographer and ask for less pay. Of course experience is important but very often people will look at expenses instead of quality. This is why my technique in being successful is to get the pictures back within 24 hours.

But above all this, I loved the buzz of having to photograph five performances in one day, especially because they were all so different.