New Media, Art & Public Space.

Better read it first, for if one drinks much from a bottle marked "Poison", it's almost certain to disagree with one sooner or later...


The 21st century has shed a lot of light on the entire concept of 'art'.
Over a hundred years ago that term would probably have been reserved for very specific artefacts such as paintings and sculptures, certain artists today who use doodles and typography would've been seen as nothing more than madmen. But isn't that what cave paintings were?

(Paintings in the Cave of Altamira, Spain)

We're not cavemen any more. The vast majority of us now live in a 'Digital Age'. With the popularity and unique essence of the internet - we are able to view almost anything we want/need. This is where I believe the term 'New Media' enters. electronic and digital technology has allowed us a previously unimaginable form of interaction and expression. The computerization of humanity has brought forth a new era of artistic expression. Video games, digital photography, animation etc enables us to experience a new level of visual and aesthetic emotion.

However this does not mean that 'Analogue art' is purely of the past. It simply means that it has evolved. According to Hilde S. Hein 'The enjoyment of art is a special instance of consumatory experience but not the only one. An exquisite dinner, a terrible fright, a fascinating conversation or even a moment of solitude - all qualify as examples of such aesthetically integrated experiences'. It perfectly sums up the idea that one perspective of art, does in no way match up with another. That is exactly what we have today, on a different level from ever before. An interesting example is the universal concept of 'Graffiti'.

(Infamous Banksy graffiti image)

Some view it as an extension of vandalism while others may simply view it as 'Urban Art'. The interesting idea of it is the audience itself. The public. That's who graffiti tends to reach out to. 'The history of Public Art is most often told with emphasis on the term "art" and very little consideration of the public context' is what Tom Finkelpearl rather intuitively wrote in his book 'Dialogues in Public Art'
The development of modern art such as graffiti has highlighted the deviation from electronic expressionism and brought it straight to the streets, forming relationships with cities rather than screens.


Finkelpearl, Tom (2001) Dialogues in Public Art, MIT Press.
Hein, Hilde S. (2001) Public art: thinking museums differently, Rowman Altamira Press

Game Show Hostess

Two days slow, that's what it is...

My idea for turning a picture into a 3 minute time-based piece was something simple - but painstakingly difficult to do when my CS4 wasn't working! Okay so I'm going to seem unoriginal but.... I was watching a quiz show where contestants had to figure out a 'pixelated' image. It's obvious. I know. So in order to make my idea work i had to use Windows Picture Viewer, take an obscene amount of screencaps and then simply put them together in Windows Movie Maker.

Here's the image I chose:

Lister Park in Manningham

It was a stupidly long process which led to an unsatisfying payback - but I didn't have any other choice at the time. I think ideally (using Adobe Premiere!) I would had liked to have zoom in as much as possible and explore the ENTIRE picture in it's pixelated state and then zoom out all in one fluid clip rather than frame by frame... by frame.

Here's the Youtube link:

It would be so nice if something would make sense for a change.

I've decided that I want to concentrate on the subject of bad architecture and poor city planning around Bradford. I've been reading into the concept of 'Bad architecture' on a more global scale.
How I present it is something that I am continuing to develop and will include examples of in my diary and update at a later date on this blog.

In an internet article called 'Should bad architecture be named and shamed?' (found at http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3146812)
Director of 'FAT' ( provocative art-architecture collaborative) Sean Griffiths states that:
"Most buildings have no or little input from an architect and are cheap, shoddy, badly designed and badly built out of crap materials. They disfigure towns, cities and landscapes leaving a legacy of depressing, banal and desolate environments. Should we really not be naming and shaming these abominations"

It's sums up in such a simple and succint way how i feel about the city of Bradford. It has the potential to be a great city but the lack of decent city planning and hideously misplaced architecture have turned the place into a complete eyesore.

Considering it's a UNESCO City of Film and has some historical landmarks in places such as Little Germany, Manningham Park, Saltaire etc - more thought and effort should go into the city centre if nowhere else!

I know it sounds like a rant - but it's a viewpoint that many people share.
On Facebook there's a group of 965 members dedicated to voicing their opinions and objections to the destruction of Bradford and it's City Centre. Aptly named: Bradford Metropolitan District Council PULL YOUR FINGER OUT!
found at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=49724601709&ref=ts

What a difference 4 decades make...

No wonder you're late. Why, this watch is exactly two days slow!


In 1966 my dad came to Bradford to study at the university that I would attend 40 years later.

Everytime he drives past he ALWAYS mentions how much everything has changed and then starts a storytelling session about his youth.
The best thing is that he always follows it up with photographic proof.

The following images were taken by and of my father during his time at UOB.
It's a perfect start to my REAL research for my project.


I'll keep updating the images in both my blog & visual diary.

Where's Wally?!

Curiouser and curiouser!

Hmmm... My idea keeps changing

I've looked into Alt-Graffiti too much and i'm now thinking of doing my own interpretation. Using what I know best:


Top ideas so far:
1. shots of bradford pieced together to look like the above
2. create characters and place them in frame to create a photographic 'Where's Wally?'
3. Take pictures around town - delete and replace certain parts of the image

But I can't seem to make a real choice and it's pissing me off.

CSI: Bradford Architecture

An author doesn't necessarily understand the meaning of his own story better than anyone else.

While taking photographs around town, my main gripe and inspiration seems to be what an awful visual state this city is in.
No matter what - there's always a construction site, ruins or just another ugly misplaced building.
There's a ridiculous lack of continuity with the architecture.
The older buildings are either stunning examples of their time/style or in complete and utter unrecognisable shambles.... and then surrounded by these repulsive post-modernist, faux Neo-Brutalist structures that in no way match their neighbours.
It's not a recent trend though, it's been a continuous process since the fall of industrialist Bradford. This ridiculous Paella of architecture... It's almost like a time capsule burst.
Here's a few examples, I'll keep adding more:

Hero Worship

I don't care much where ...

Few more from Noah Kalina
Im amazed at his artistic eye.
I keep seeing the city as his secondary subject... it's so sly.

http://www.noahkalina.com/
(all images taken from here)

I think it's inspired my idea to evolve. I feel like my images so far are rather redundant. Doesn't mean I won't be sharing them though.
Soon i'll start uploading my own images properly, once I decide the order I wish to work in.

Nice To Meet You...

- When I use a word it means just what I choose it to mean... neither more nor less.

- The question is whether you can make words mean so many different things.



Bit more UNCONVENTIONAL means of graffiti. Proper Bo' I tell thee:





Thomas Voorn arranges and folds clothes and other things to make letters and words. Objects to short messages. The "garment graffiti" messages as he calls them, can be temporary or permanent. Temporary as the clothes are mearly folded to shape, maybe to a public place, where they can be recollected and recycled after use. The clothes and background fabric can also be treated with fabric stiffner to make the form permanent.



http://www.thomasvoorn.com/

Dorian Gray

What is the use of a book, without pictures or conversations?

I'm liking the idea of a long-term photography project - but using mainly the city as my subject.

The details have not yet been decided, I have too many ideas and have no idea how to filter them out just yet.

I keep wondering if taking pictures of just the city - it's architecture & attractions - is enough for me. I want something with a bit more substance. having said that, it'd all depend on the way my work is presented and no just the images alone

but reality hits: I don't have enough time to do a long-term photography project. Not like this guy:

Noah Kalina
http://www.noahkalina.com/
(all images taken from here)

From Brooklyn, New York
A Jack-of-all-trades; Photographer, Artist, Designer & Magazine Editor.

His MOST famous work is his Youtube video called 'Noah takes a photo of himself every day for 6 years' - It's pretty self explanatory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B26asyGKDo

What I love the most about this project of his is that his pictures are so simple, none are staged or posed, there's no setting alike. His face is completely without depth, his appearance is utterly mundane, even creepy at times. Yet he's managed to make this famous and dramatic piece of work... that's not even complete yet.

Having said that he is by no means the first person to attempt such a project:

Destructive Art?

If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?



"Once graffiti art was an outlet for political activist to express themselves but now the art form has worked its way into many other areas such as graphic design and digital photography."

Image & quote found at: http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/graffiti-art/



I want to have a look at the art within a city - not necessarily the kind found in galleries and museums. I wan't the kind of art that the public itself creates and stamps on the walls. Mostly Graffiti. I think it helps make a city unique. I also think of it as a sign of democracy.

It doesnt have to be elaborate, it can be as much as an initial carved into a bus stop. But what i really want is a place that is absolutely covered in it. I want see a form of destruction in my city that isn't caused by the council or private buisnesses. Plus if i find something inspiring enough then I have another thing to add to my project.



According to the lovely Wikipedia: Graffiti (singular: graffito; the plural is used as a mass noun) is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property. Graffiti is any type of public markings that may appear in the forms of simple written words to elaborate wall paintings. Graffiti has existed since ancient times, with examples dating back to Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire^[1]



I've started looking at some Graffiti artists, it's amazing how many don't actually use paint. My favourite so far is this one that uses....wool.



Image found at: http://deputy-dog.com/2008/11/urban-knitting-worlds-most-inoffensive.html



Found some cool images on istockphoto.com that were interesting and apart from 'the norm'



http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-10592239-southbank-graffiti.php



http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-3376724-bright-blue-couch-against-cement-wall-of-graffiti.php

RND - Kinda...

CSI.SP: Observing Urban Space by Maurice Harteveld (25 Feb 2009)

CSI.SP: Observing Urban Space by Maurice Harteveld (25 Feb 2009)

View more documents from Jasper Moelker.

A Camera & A Purpose

Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction!



Right then. I've definitely decided to continue with the photography idea for the Visual Arts module.

I have an agenda, but I wont make it too terribly clear just yet.

I want to start with experimenting with the mechanics of this 'progressive photography' idea. If that's even what I can call it?!

I like that there's no instructions to this. I enjoy creative freedom.

I'm just lucky it's autumn. perfect colour pallette.

I'm so pretentious.

Here's me trying this idea out on my neices at the park.. 2 seconds is pretty slick:




Even though I've presented it in the form of a digital slideshow I'd prefer it in a tangible, printed out format. Having said that, the more pictures - the more rewarding.
Laterz

There's No Place Like Home.

Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with, and then the different branches of arithmetic -- Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.



I live in Yorkshire. Bradford to be precise. It's a wretched place. Especially at it's chewy centre.

I genuinely like where I live, but I hate what it's turning into. Everywhere you look something it's being torn down, burnt down, built up uglier than ever and other things just simply vanish. Either way, you're never far away from a construction site.



However, it does have the kind of beauty you need to go in search for. Every now and again you'll be caught off guard. and smile.


Stupid question but... do the people 'in charge' notice it? The state it's in, the lack of history and humanity? The majority of the town in either car parks, takeaways or £ shops. Who are they trying to impress?
It genuinely pisses me off.

What to do... What to do?