STATEMENT OF INTENT
Aims
The aim of my practice is to gain understanding of the historical diagnosis of Hysteria, and the current understandings it holds.
To delve into the treatment of female patients suffering with hysteria and to research the treatments doctors would prescribe to cure it.
To explore a range of mediums in order to expand my knowledge on possible materials, to be curious, perceptive and uninhabited in order to give my work the best possible outcome.
To take my practice through a diverse journey of hysteria in a continuous manner to keep my mind and imagination alive, with research, experiments and relevant artists.
To create a large body of work, that delves into the topic of Hysteria, without holding back, hopefully capturing the viewer’s undivided attention.
To research a range of different artists who explore the topic of Hysteria or the female body from different angles, those who delve into the topic and those who deprive it.
Objectives
I want to have gained an understanding of any coloration between Hysteria and the diagnosed illness it is related to at present, thought the use of my journal.
To undergo an exploration into the world of Hysteria, with the production of sculpture and paint to combine differing materials, creating innovative possibilities.
To gain insight into other artists work around related topics, and to take into consideration how each individual may or not be affected by the outcome Hysteria left in its path.
To produce final pieces to exhibit within the Third year exhibition, which stands out and takes the attention of the room. For my work to be successful it must demand the viewers thoughts and attention. Alongside this, my journals will contain both primary and secondary research, experiments and failed work, which will show the development of my ideas and the evolution of my skills throughout my practice.
Primary Sources
I plan on investigating with a range of different mediums as I find that using just the one quite restrictive within my practice; I want to find the most effective way to create my work, as this will enhance the outcome visually.
I plan on using the following mediums; of sculpture, photography and painting to allow my work to show my strengths and allow me carry out a range of different experiments.
I plan on using photography as a way of capturing emotional thoughts and mental ideas by means of collecting information that’s there in the moment as well as factual figures.
Secondary Sources
As secondary research is a critical component within my own practice, discussing relevant artists and theorists throughout my journal will enable to me open my mind to different possible interpretations around hysteria and the female body.
Cathy de Monchaux’s use of raw, solid materials alongside soft, fragile and skin like fabrics gives the sense of masculinity and femininity together, an aspect I would like to incorporate in my own work.
Alongside this I will undergo research on female artists Kiki Smith who uses the female body so boldly within her work, taking it in a range of different directions, predominantly sculpture, as this will allow me to understand the female figure in various ways.
I will also look for other artists who work with this theme, which I am not currently aware of to broaden my understanding and knowledge on the varied themes.
Context
The context of my work will look at both historical understandings and art works as well as contemporary ideas and works on Hysteria, as it will be crucial to delve into where my topics derived from. For this I will use both books and the Internet to reference the historical aspect, and to aid the exploration of relative artists to visually depict them. The context of my work incorporates the use of sculpting materials, but not always in the orthodox way, I like to challenge the boundaries of my chosen materials, taking them away from their natural uses, and applying them in unusual circumstances.
In terms of artist research I will be looking at Kiki Smith for her female figurine sculptures, and Cathy de Monchaux for her inspiring vagina sculptures as I find these works incredibly fascinating, and have had a real impact throughout my own practice.
For other aspects of my artist research I will continue to use the internet, such as gallery websites of the works that I can not go to see for myself, alongside a wide range of relevant books. However, I will visit London to see some artwork for myself, where I can stand in front of the work and see it, feel it and try to understand it, alongside scrutinizing it for my own development. Such as the Saatchi Gallery, White Chapel and The White Cube, which will hopefully inspire my own imagination for my work.
Research Strategies
I find the aspect of keeping a journal very helpful, it allows me to keep my ideas in order and also helps me with my time management, however I am prone to over researching certain areas. My journal will contain the majority of secondary research as this is what I find the most helpful when creating my work, as I am able to see things in a different perspective, it helps inspire my own thought process, and allows me to delve further than I might at a first glance.
My research shows the development of my topic as it passes thought a wide range of themes that are all interlinked. I use bold headlines for each topic as it allows me to visually and mentally incorporate the required artists into the correct section, allowing my point of reference to be found easily and correctly. I find that this strategy to my research allows me to flow into different topics without getting lost along the way with off topic themes.
Technical Approaches
The experimentation of new ideas and materials is the process that I find the most enjoyable and useful. Exploring the possibilities of a new material, seeking it strengths and weaknesses allows me to adapt to the material and use it in a positive way within my work. I find when I come across a new material, I delve straight into the creating side of it rather than testing its abilities in the style of Marquette’s. However, I find this a strength within myself, I don’t hesitate, I go for it which usually ends in an interesting piece of work that I can learn from and take into another direction. This way of approaching my materials allows me to act freely with my work, I don’t put too much pressure on the material, if it doesn’t do what I had planned, I adapt my idea or I continue to find a suitable material.
Action Plan
I plan to bring all of the above aspects together by creating a large body of work that uses both primary and secondary research in order to develop any initial ideas. I plan to use a large amount of artists to gain understanding of different areas of my study, from historical artists to contemporary artists, as this will give me a range of different works to explore. Any initial ideas that I begin with are never the end product, which is due to the large amount of research I undergo, as I begin to see other possibilities for the idea.
I plan to continue with my research for the majority of the module, as I find this helps me with my practice, I need to be in a confident stage within my research before I’m happy with any work that I make. I like to be quite organized, but sometimes sticking to a plan can hinder my creativity as I begin to feel trapped. By continuing my research constantly alongside my practical work I can continue to develop ideas and take them down a number of different pathways to get the best outcome and the most productive. When I feel at the right stage within my research I will begin to experiment with different materials to see what will be relevant within my practice. When I am happy with the chosen materials I will begin executing my work to a high standard for the viewer, as well as making sure they are ready for the exhibition they will be shown in.
KAYLEIGH ADAMS 