Category: Concealed Illusions

Concealing and Transforming…

Samantha Mckenzie / / Concealed Illusions, Experimentation

Here I have posted a video of myself removing and re-applying my makeup, to illustrate the process of creation and the everyday routine of masking my reality. In a way, makeup is the ‘real life’ instagram as we are exhibiting the idealised versions of ourselves. My group and I have chosen to start experimenting with the use of makeup and what is behind it.  We are creating links between that, instagram and idealised paintings as part of our performance. There is something vulnerable about removing that mask; revealing the truth. This idea is something we will expand on further as a group so keep tuned in!

The Instagram effect

Jessica Jarvis / / Concealed Illusions, Development

In today’s discussion, we were talking about how make-up can be described as a mask. How we put make-up to hide imperfections  filtering our natural look.

Is what you see is what you get? We have seen the connection between the painting (John Carmichael) and make up, picking up that what we see isn’t necessary truthful representing a idealised place.

This particular question got the discussion going:- What do we want to achieve?

The audience question reality through art, the traditional paintings looking realistic giving the illusion which is concealing reality. The development of art through time has become concealed, people are also concealed, filtering is what you see is what you get? Creating evolution of concealment.

Audience question modern art due to the abstract/contemporary approach towards society, which can be criticized not displaying anything ‘obvious’ when actually some modern arts pieces can display real life things, than what some paintings represent linking to the ‘grim’ body that is in the usher gallery.

The connection between the two rooms will highlight and define the impact of idealism and the honesty between the two exhibitions making our message clearer and emphasizing the naturalistic look of society and the image which is perceived.

 

(Group discussion with- Kirsty Taylor, Samantha Mckenzie, Tom Baines)

Author: Jessica Jarvis

“Breaking the Silence…”

Kirsty Taylor / / Concealed Illusions, Public Responses, Space

At our site in the art museum, each building has its own environment and focus which stays constant each day. The Collection focuses mainly on educational exhibits for schools, however is adapted to cater to a wider audience range from young children to adults. Because of this, the space is loud, vibrant and full of voices both from the visitors and the sound wall stretching the width of the building.  In contrast to this is the Usher Gallery where we intend our performance to be based. The building has the feel of a ‘typical’ art museum set in a beautiful manor house with traditional paintings and artifacts being the central focus. Here, the atmosphere is much more hushed and serious. Even in the room holding more contemporary art, visitors still keep their voices to a whisper whilst the sound of footsteps and music echo through the rooms. In the room holding the paintings, this is particularly amplified with silence feeling naturally expected of you as a visitor.

Bearing in mind this natural urge to be quiet and respectful in the gallery, how would visitors feel when this traditional silence is broken by our performance and what impacts will it leave on the space? Considering the nature of the space we are to work in, as actors we will have to consider, “the possibility of the audience member moving through or past the performance“(Randle, 2001, p86). The nature of a site specific performance means that our audience will be much more involved than with a typical theatre based performance and so will be forced to acknowledge what we are doing and question it. However, considering the kind of people who are attracted to art galleries, I believe they may be open to new ideas about art through performance as when questioned, they are willing to talk about art and don’t shy away from seeing different interpretations of the art surrounding them. Some were interested in what the reality of our focal painting of the Lincoln Brayford would be by stripping away the idealised image. Hopefully when this is put into action, we will leave a lasting impression on the space and change the way in which paintings are viewed by the public. This will reflect Artaud’s idea to “fuse art with life” (Randle, 2001, p86) and also challenge the stereotypes and boundaries of what kinds of ‘art’ can be shown in a traditional gallery.

 

Randle, J (2001) ‘Theatre for the Interactive Age: Participatory Site-specific Productions’, International Journal of the Arts in Society, April: p83-93

‘The Old and The New’

Jessica Jarvis / / Concealed Illusions, Space

 

Lincoln is one of the world’s great small cities, renowned for its striking fusion of old and new.

Living in Lincoln for 1 and half years I have never explored and discovered the true identity that hides behind the bricks and water. The design and culture of this city expresses the historical features and the contemporary/modern buildings that we see today, eg. The University Of Lincoln.

Lincoln

 

(^^^Picture of The University of Lincoln^^^)

Is the city losing its identity  Maybe it doesn’t quite know where it belongs, is it the past,present or heading towards the future? or can it work with both? Which being the old and the new.

Discovering Lincoln, has enabled me to discover the clear divide between the past and present.  We had to discover the architecture and the smaller details of Lincoln and this made me discover the new and the old contrast with one another. When you go to the town centre, your purpose is to go there for shopping, or food etc so you never take any notice of the buildings that you are passing or are in, such as the cafe that is opposite the Waterside shopping centre, doing this exercise ,it help me become aware of the historical and contemporary content that the town centre holds as a city.

Finding the strong link between Lincoln city and both, The Usher Gallery and The Collection, the divide between the old and the new has a big effect on the society  The collection, taking the educational (factual) modern approach to the members of the public, where as the Usher gallery takes the more mature approach to the members of the public allowing people to interpretate the art, rather than being told the facts of the piece.

The feeling between the old and the new creates a sense of division between members of the public. This is why the Museum caters for the younger generation (The collection) and the more mature generation (The Usher Gallery.) Discovering Lincoln I believe that this is because of the clear separation between the old and the new and it highlights this in the museum.

Lincoln is a changing city trapped in the historical content of the city. It’s constantly developing, with The University Of Lincoln, Wagamamas ( restaurant) being on the Brayford pool,  what is the next new thing to be built in this old, historical city?

Will the City lose its identity or will it emphasize the crucial historical features of this beautiful city?

YOU DECIDE…

 

The Instagram Approach…

Samantha Mckenzie / / Concealed Illusions, Development, Public Responses

On initial viewing of the Painting- ‘The Brayford Pool and Lincoln Cathedral’ (1858) hanging in The Usher Gallery, my group and I saw great beauty, artistic flare and appreciated the feeling of going back in time and visiting what Lincoln once was. We intended to create our performance based on these differences and the culture change in Lincoln. After some further discussion we realised we needed some outside perspective and during our time spent in the Usher Gallery in class we asked various different people their opinions of the painting. We recieved a lot of positive responses about how beautiful it was, and how well the cathedral is captured as well as the busyness portrayed in the painting and how precise the detail is. However we then questioned one gentleman who gave us much more negative feedback. He spoke about how flat the painting was, saying it was lifeless and unrealistic. We took these comments in our stride but still feeling positive about our views and ideas. We then had an interesting discussion with a woman who had a varied view. She mentioned the busyness in the painting, how well the light was captured and questioned whether the cathedral was to be the focul point because it comes accross very poignant. She then began to question the honesty of the painting, saying it looks like a photograph, the swans all seem perfectly placed, everyone is well dressed and the boats are in good condition. ‘Surely it woudln’t be this perfect’ she said. We then realised we hadn’t read in full the small sign next to the painting on which the full title and description of the painting is written. It states clearly that the painting was an idealised image and the swans and fishermen were painted in for this reason. This turned our whole view of the painting on its head and twisted our vision. We then began to consider our performance being an unveiling of what the painting should look like and also a presentation of our opinions of the dishonesty of the painting and the era in which it was painted. It’s interesting to link this to todays society and when you really think about it, do we ever actually see the ‘real’ thing? Or is it a photoshopped version? Is it something people want us to see? Even when we take photographs of ourselves or of somehting which is already beautiful we edit, we crop and we criticise. Much like the well known iphone app called Instagram; the place where everything looks better than it actually is and a plate of beans on toast is made to look like a masterpiece. We have the option to filter a photograph and edit out any imperfections that might make it unique, so we do it, and then it looks like any other Instagram post; all the same.

This photograph is one I have taken of two swans spontaneously posing in a heart shaped position, taken on the Brayford pool. The background isn’t the most beautiful and the water isn’t the cleanest but the image of the swans is still beautiful.

IMG_0530

This is the same photograph after I have edited it on  Instagram and instantly it is more attractive and inviting. Anything ugly about the picture has been dismissed, the reflection in the water is clear and the image is a much more beatiful one. But it isn’t real, it has been altered just so it is more pleasing to the eye. Without anything in the photgraph but the swans, it could have been taken anywhere as long as this image was captured.

So when you really think about it, it’s as if the artist of ‘The Brayford Pool and Lincoln Cathedral’ has instagramed the painting to make something that was probably quite average in to a master piece, and something people really want to see.