Saturday, January 25, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Excerpt from Thesis Introduction
‘Schizoid Spaces of
Defiance’ (Figure 1), the body of work that I will be discussing in this
thesis, is an (inconclusive) culmination of experiments conducted over the
duration of the MFA course, grappling with the intentionality of hybridity and
ambiguity in form and function. I have used the term “schizoid”[1] in order
to reference the psychological atmosphere I strive for when creating the
isolated spaces in my work, as well as the notion of subversiveness. Avery Gordon, author
of ‘Ghostly Matters’[2],
describes Bretineau’s[3]
history, which includes its current status as a psychiatric residential
treatment facility, as a place for the
enclosure of “disobedient social subjects and their ideas”. The duality of an
asylum being imposed versus self-imposed figures heavily in the spaces I
construct.
 |
| Figure 1. Assya Makawi. Mock up of ‘Schizoid Spaces of Defiance’, 2013 |
The artwork is executed in
a series of three boxes, housing small screens playing videos[4], as well
as objects, which interact with,
reflect, obscure and distort them. The
boxes are perforated with holes and
lenses through which the internal space can be scrutinized, and in turn the
viewer is faced with ambiguous, ghostly imagery. Headphones provide confused,
layered sound, blurring the distinctions of experiencing internal
and external realities.
Psychiatry: denoting or having a personality type characterized by emotional
aloofness and solitary habits.
• informal (in
general use) resembling schizophrenia in having inconsistent or contradictory
elements; mad or crazy: it's a frenzied, schizoid place.
[2] Gordon examines how the haunting social
forces of the past, such as complex intersections of race, gender, and class,
control present life.
[3] In ‘Notes for the Bretinau Room of The
Workhouse—a Project by Ines Schaber and Avery Gordon’ by Avery Gordon in
collaboration with artist Ines Schaber, on ‘The Workhouse’ for Documenta 13,
2012
[4]
The videos
will be discussed individually in this essay
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
First Skype meeting with Lee Wagstaff
 |
| 'Apostles' by Lee Wagstaff |
Lee Wagstaff and I met at Central St. Martins over 20 years
ago. It is great to have him as a mentor and to discuss my work (and the art
world in general) with him.
Wagstaff discussed setting up his gallery 6 years ago in the Neukolln area, and
how in the beginning he’d experimented with using the rented space for an art
collective and a commercial gallery. It now exhibits artists’ work, includes a
printer’s studio, has been represented at art fairs, and is successful because
of the attention and support its professional art project has inspired. Wagstaff
went into detail about his dealings with the various artists he represents and
stressed the importance of artists communicating eloquently about
their work, in the form of artist statements etc… The gallery is now on pause
for a few years, while Wagstaff starts his Phd at the RCA in London to explore
a new (more technological) direction of his work.
Artist Statements
In order to avoid “abrasive” artspeak and jargon,
Wagstaff suggested that it might be best to actually describe what the work is “without
any kind of poetic licence”. It might be just a description of what is
happening, the subject matter, technique or materials.
"Statements will change as you change as an artist".
"Statements are tricky because they're written down, it’s
almost like a contract, it’s the nearest thing that you have to a manifesto and
that’s why it can be problematic".
“What I like about your statement is that it does
describe you and what you’re interested in and I think that that’s a really
useful thing to have. Many statements use a lot of buzzwords and end up
sounding exactly the same, which is what artists hate most”.
“There’s a difference between what you say in a
conversation and what you write down. It might be an idea to record yourself
speaking about the work – the gap between the thought process and speaking is
much shorter when you speak - so it can be much more honest”.
Feminism
“As long as there is an integrity to your exploration,
and it’s backed up by knowledge, people will respect it whether it’s a view
that is in or out of fashion”.
Wagstaff is working in the area of theology that is not
always met with approval in the contemporary context. “I think a lot of the
imagery that I used has put people off in the past but has also attracted
others and an interest in the topic. I think you just have to stand your ground”.
“Feminism is problematic for a lot of female artists
who may be frightened to use such terms, because it puts people off”, but
Wagstaff believes that the more such terms and ideas are discussed, the more
relaxed attitudes would become towards them.
“You’re telling your story, which is an interesting story
for a lot of people who are not from your background and I don’t think you
should worry about that because it’s your story. The art has to speak for
itself, and background facts serve as an invitation”.
Crazy Cat Lady
"Men don’t need to defend anything that they do... the art world is not a democracy and it’s not fair and you have pockets of political correctness but in general if you even look at successful artists of colour, quite often their work is about that issue and people do get categorized.
"Men don’t need to defend anything that they do... the art world is not a democracy and it’s not fair and you have pockets of political correctness but in general if you even look at successful artists of colour, quite often their work is about that issue and people do get categorized.
 |
| Crazy Cat Lady from the Simpsons |
“If the quality of the work or the ideas are engaging, then that can often overcome quite a lot of prejudices in art. I believe in
form over content - if something is made in a beautiful way or a passionate
way. There’s a difference between an invitation to converse and preaching at
someone. When you’re being preached at, it’s never interesting, but when things
are described in a passionate and poetic way, it’s much more of an invitation”.
“One of the artist’s responsibilities is to disrupt
culture. It is good to jar people sometimes and jar yourself... It’s part of
the reason why I’m going to study again because every artist should believe in
what they do. Art is kind of like spirituality or religion because most serious
artists are committed to it and some people see spirituality as an irrational impulse
to practice.”
Art Show
Art Show
“You seem to know what you’re doing and seem to
have formed the presentation and the ideas so it’s about refining it and
playing with it. The whole point is to enjoy it… now is not the time to
question yourself – it’s more afterwards because that is how you evolve as an
artist. Have a list and just work through it because you are at that stage now.”
Artist talk
"Practice! Instead of just giving cold facts use phrases like “this
is what I’m thinking about” or “this is the area that I’m exploring”. When you’re
practising try to anticipate questions and if you can’t answer one just be
honest about it. The hardest thing is to be concise and to express your ideas
in a few sentences".
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
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