Existance

Adam Broomburg & Oliver Chanarin

These made an impact on me, as did some of the pieces in the Stazaker exhibition - where elements are removed/taken out/hidden.

FMP: Experimentation: Merging Images: Stazaker V

FMP: Experimentation: Merging Images: Stazaker IV

FMP: Experimentation: Merging Images: Stazaker III

FMP: Experimentation: Merging Images: Stazaker II

FMP: Experimentation: Merging Images: Stazaker I

FMP: Experimentation: Merging images

FMP: Experimentation: Film Camera

This was my experimental film for seeing whether double exposure works on a disposible camera...

unfortunately not :( though there are a couple which look suspiciously like it may have done...

but anyway, its always nice to have real film, and i am now no longer curious.

so lets see where this may go...

looks like it will just be a photoshop job if i want to merge to images into one.

may have a go with these

FMP: Planning: Idea 3

Going out to a purposeful event

Document with photo's

Then write various other eventualities that could have happened

This is quite nice because I don't know what will happen in the first instance

Nor do I even know what the event could be

FMP: Planning: Idea 2

Along with the intrigue of what 'could have been'

I may decide to investigate this, but in a more up to date - in-the-present-way.

Rather than years back, and how i could be altered now, think about the concept of what could have been in the immediate present.

My idea was perhaps to do the exact journey twice, fully planned and fully documented.

However the second time round I do the journey, deviate on purpose. Leave five minutes later, walk a fraction slower... ect...

I obviously need to think about this idea properly if i was to go along with it, but the idea is to do a journey twice, to highlight or represent what could have happened, had i been later/earlier/a week later/fortnight later...

I would then document this through photography

and photograph the same stages of my journey in the exact same way each time

I was thinking I could then merge them together

I could do this journey a hundred times, and have a hundred different outcomes to what could possibly be.

Anyway

this is an interesting idea?

However, it would possibly have to be a fairly interesting journey for it to be an interesting project.

FMP: Planning: Idea 1

Chapter 1:

Sept 06 > Sept 10

my life as it really happened

Chapter 2:

June 10 > Sept 10

my life had I not come to London

Chapter 3:

Feb 09 > Sept 10

my life had I gotten back in my relationship

Chapter 4:

Jan 09 > Sept 10

my life had the relationship not ended

Chapter 5:

Sept 08 > Sept 10

my life had i not gone to chichester college

Chapter 6:

Sept 06 > Sept 10

my life had I not gotten into this relationship

Chapter 7:

Sept 06 > Sept 10

my life had i got lifts back from school

Chapter 8:

Sept 06 > Sept 10

my life had I moved schools

Chapter 9:

June 06 > Sept 10

my life had i moved to a different house

Chapter 10:

x > Sept 10

my life had i not moved house

I really like this idea however I am worried it may not work out well for a graphics outcome.

I think it is going to be a lot more work than I anticipated to do in the time available.

This is an idea, however as I am still at the planning stages, there is plenty of room for me to think up alternatives.

Friday 18th February

Today I have gone out on foot with the intention of taking experimental pictures. More specifically, trying to see whether I can double expose on a disposable camera...

In theory to do this, I take a picture as normal, and then don't wind on the film.

When I come to wanting to double expose onto that photo, I load up the flash, then wack the camera really hard with a solid object from underneath...(whilst trying to aim at the thing you are wanting to capture) if the flash goes off then apparently that means i've double exposed! However...the proof will be in the developed outcomes.

Im really looking forward to seeing what they might look like! So exciting!

Thursday 17th February

I went to the John Stezaker exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery. It was so so amazing, I didn't realise quite how much work this man had produced, there was loads! Was really inspiring.

As I went round, looking at the different ways he collages and juxtaposes images, I made notes of the techniques he uses.

-Placing a white cut out rectangle on top of a photo:

-Tabula Rasa II, 1983

Collage

5 7/8 x 7 3/4 in. (14.9 x 19.7 cm)

I have noticed that a common use of his collaging is with a black and white background with a colour image on top.

Although I think the images are beautiful, I think there is an element of sorrow in them. There is definitely a hint of sadness hidden amongst the humour or the beauty.

-Untitled (Rose), 1982
Collage
7 x 10 in. (17.8 x 25.3 cm)

I really really loved this exhibition. And i'm going to do some experimentation inspired by some of the techniques of his which I noted down.

I'm starting to take photo's on a disposable camera, once I have the film developed, I shall use these photo's to work with.

FMP Initial Ideas: My Life and It's Divisions

Without a doubt;

The biggest turning point in my life was at the age of 14, the start of year 10, in Sept 2006.

Sounds very dramatic, I know (although I admit I've always been one for drama).

It makes me cringe having to recall it, but I know if it wasn't for this sequence of events, my life could be in a completely different place to now.

In the start of year 10, aged 14, I am living in my home of 12 years. I've lived there since the age of 2. It was a nice home, deceivingly nice. It was also convenient, it was a 5 minute walk up the road to school. So never had I had to rely on anyone but my self to get to school. I was also in a neighbour hood where I had grown up with people since we were young. Friends I had known since primary school were all close by to me.

Then a few weeks on from the start of year 10, a lot of things changed;

The stigma being that me, my mum, dad and sister moved house. We moved directly to the other side of town. I was out of reach of everything I had grown up with, people I lived by, the comfort of security of familiarity.

So. I no longer could walk to school, could no longer walk home from school. I was out of my comfort with knowing where I was. I didn't know anyone.

[simply by this one action of a move of house, obviously this would jolter everything]

On the first day home from school back to our new house, me and my sister had to get a bus for the first time.

[new routine, new concept to us]

It was this which then became the second stigma for the creation of a diverted life. Having to get this bus, meant a routine of getting on the same bus, at the same time, and the same place, 5 days a week, and most importantly, with the same people. Eventually I got to be good friends with them, and even further on, became involved in a new relationship with one of them.

Instantly

My world was now set up for, most the major changes had happened, but these changes in themselves will constantly add more and more diversions, which never would have happened, had I never moved house.

So. I was in a relationship for two years. During this time, we had 3 summers together, 3 christmas's, he left school, I then left school and started college. Unfortunately it ended in 2009. His path then subsequently left mine, and we both have now gone again into two different directions.

Unfortunately I have no communication with him anymore and I don't know anything about what he may be doing. But I am in London, 85 miles away. We haven't had any contact at all for a year. After two years of seeing each other nearly everyday, move on two years, and there couldn't be more of a contrast.

So, the breaking up was possibly one of the final stigma's. Extremely dramatic and deep for someone merely the age of 16 (nearly 17)! However, again I think this is part of what has shaped my attitude now, I feel quite mature for someone only the age of 18 (nearly 19)

The unbeknown is what I find fascinating.

Is this area of my previous life going to be the area of investigation for my project?

Or could I use it to begin with to possibly stem something else...

as there is always division after division after division.

Though I think it will take alot to alter my life drastically after all that. Maybe because I was so young, is the reason it made more of an impact?

FMP Initial Ideas: I really want

to make my own publication in the form of a newspaper for my final piece.

I will get them printed here.

'this web of time -

the strands of which approach one another, bifurcate, intersect, or ignore each other through the centuries - embraces every possibility. We do not exist in most of them. In some you exist, and not I, while in others I do, and you do not, and yet in others both of us exist, in this one in which chance you favoured me, you have come to my gate. In another, you, crossing the garden have found me dead.'

'time is ever

dividing itself into innumerable futures.'

The Most Incredible Story I Ever Did Read

Jorge Luis Borges

The Garden of Forking Paths

One of the most amazing pieces of short writing. I feel this book was made for me and this project, though I never knew it existed until I had already started researching...

It's a fictional story about 'the garden of forking paths' which in itself, is also a book, not a garden. This book is a book containing all the ever possible outcomes, of various possible paths. It is like a game.

Hard to explain, but it is only a few pages long and so takes no time to read... I recommend everyone must read it. It opens up many ideas.

Very philosophical.

Currently

I am sat in the library. I have been here for about 90 minutes.

What would have happened had I come in and sat in the exact same place, however four hours earlier?

Who would I have been sat with?

Who would be in here?

What would have happened had I left earlier and gone somewhere else?

Where would I be, had I left, right now? Instead of being here in the library.

Whilst I Am Dreaming

my life is split into two different places at one time

[I am asleep]

you are there. you are there. and you are there.

i am in the center of a city

clouds merging in with the colour of the sky

there are lots of people around me

everything seems to be moving, except for me

[I think]

it feels real. this is really happening. but at the same time it feels too sureal

why would i be with you. and you. and you?

and why would you and you and you be with me?

[blank space]

i stir

i am awake. i am in my bed. and i am alone

i am no longer with you. and you. and you.

and i am no longer in the center of a city

the clouds are currently invisible as the sky is pure black [night time]

through dreaming in your sleep, you are temporarily living a parallel life

you can be in two different places at once.

though only consciously living one at any one time.

FMP Research: Parallel Universe

Self contained separate reality co existing with ones own.

'multiverse'

'alternative reality'

fantasy

'In dark fantasy/horror - parallel universe is a place used to hide unpleasant things.'

Something I never consciously realised till now. However, so true, so subtle and so chilling.

Further research relating to above:

Jorge Luis Borges: The Garden of Forking Paths

Frank Copra: Its a wonderful life

The Family Man

Donnie Darko

Chronicles of Narnia

One Thousand and One Nights

Kate Pullinger: The Mistress of Nothing

FMP Research: Ryan Gander

'blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction'

'ryan gander assembles seemingly disparate objects, actions and texts to deliver his own narrative systems'

'his practice aims at making the invisible visible'

Source

I find these quotes about this artists concepts totally beautiful

He is definitely someone who is intrigued along the same wavelength as me.

FMP Initial Ideas: Documentation

I feel I would really like to experiment documenting my idea with photography.

I would really like to use a low-tec disposable camera, and look into different effects I can get from using one.

I really like the quality of disposable cameras because it looks more 'real', more grungy, more life like, as if it's really happening now, and it was taken from a blink of an eye.

There is something about digital cameras which just don't have the same authenticity. Too clear, too superficial.

Vanina Sorrenti

However, the look i am really striving for, specifically inspired by the division of different paths, from the Butterfly Effect theory, is double exposure.

One image on top of another.

I would love love love to do this,

I would create two different stories, and then photograph them onto one image, to join them together.

So there would be story A and story B.

with paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4... and so on...

So in the first image I would double expose A1 and B1... If you understand.

Then the final result would be two contrasting images, I hope this idea would be really beautiful, it translates my idea exactly.

Time to get experimenting...

Jacob Ring

FMP: Tutor Feedback

Look into:

• Ryan Gander
• Parallel Universes
• Cosmos

FMP Initial Ideas: Research List //2

• Chaos Theory
• Fate
• Destiny
• Tragedy
• Hindsight

Sliding Doors 1998

A film which follows one persons life, however in two different situations.

At the start, there is an insignificant action which splits her life. As a viewer, we follow both paths simultaneously - the one she's living, and the one which had she been a second earlier, her life would have took.

The instance which divides her life is the cliche not-getting-on-the-train-in-time. She was just a second too late meaning she had to wait for the next one.

This resulted in her being late for work, and being fired, and then going home to find her boyfriend cheating on her...before then meeting a guy who she ends up dating.

Had she been a second earlier, she would have made it to work, although would still be oblivious to the fact her boyfriend was cheating on her, and basically this followed a totally different direction.

So this story is all about the what if's, and this film carries out the if in parallel to what is really going on.

The Butterfly Effect 2004

'It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon half way round the world'

-chaos theory

Evan's (Ashton Kutcher) suffers a life of various traumas from a very young age. Along side the trauma, Evan would black out, causing him to miss parts of his life.

To try and help solve his black out and memory loss, Evan starts writing a daily diary.

Later in the film, Evan realises that he can supernaturally go back in time, to the time of the black out where a trauma was involved, and then alter the situation to stop the trauma from happening, ultimately thinking he would make things right.

However, from him solving one problem, other problems would then crop up.

This is a film about Evan trying to fix his, and his friends and family's past, however it's very distressing as it doesn't work out.

FMP Initial Ideas: Reflecting The Quote?

Take a number of constants

(the only thing which currently comes to mind is planting a seed, or buying some plants...)

then...

Put them under different situations.

For example

1. leave one of the constants on a desk, water it the right amount
2. leave another on a shelf and water too much
3. leave another on a window sill and don't water

though i remember doing this 'experiment' in year 3 of primary school...

but then again it is only a way of representing how the futures can change between which ever path you (or the plant) takes, as simply as possible.

• this is an element of recording

Another idea?

Take an object/write a letter/draw a picture... something of which was originally in my position...

Then leave it somewhere in public

I will no longer be apart of this objects journey...

But if there was a way I could end up having it given back to me, with the details of which the journey it went on attached...

Though I can't imagine this working, but its the idea of this object representing another path of which it is doing for me... It would be amazing if it worked though.

• this is an element of experiment

Idea number 3

My own life?

• Write out my life as it has really happened
• Write out my life but with a slight change at a random point-carry on story

Do thing a few times

[This may be a good thing to start with as I love writing and I find writing always stems ideas.]

• Element of imagination

Spontaneity

• Plan a day out

-Then do something that triggers my eye - deviate from the plan

-Write about if I had been to....I wouldn't have....

• Create a division of paths on purpose

FMP Initial Ideas: Quote:

'the butterfly effect stands for the proposition that-

"the slightest differences in one-variable have profound effects on the outcome of the whole system. Initial differences become magnified over time to produce dramatically different results"' Source

So basically, even if there was an ever so slight variable in one action (for example the precise bus you catch on a usual day-which could vary just from leaving the house five or ten minutes earlier or later) can each become magnified as time moves on (the differences between each possible journey).

SO FASCINATING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING!

It simply opens up to many questions and possibilities.

FMP Initial Ideas: Research List //1

The Butterfly Effect

Where would I be now if...

• Research theory
• Watch Butterfly Effect
• Watch Sliding Doors
• Watch Run Lola Run

FINAL MAJOR PROJECT

Art and Design Project Proposal 2011 ‘Split Second’

Progress and Achievement

From doing the Foundation course I have realised my adaptability to different projects; applying different viewpoints and techniques to my work. My work has really developed simply from being influenced by other classmates and having feedback from critiques. I have really stuck with the importance of never forgetting what I am trying to communicate, though I like to take the message into a subtle way.

Context

Above images by Nigel Peake

The power and influence which word and image has upon a viewer is the reason why I am fascinated with communication. I love creating a message, but messages which are intriguing and thought provoking, as opposed to instantly understandable pieces.

I love to incorporate photography or simple drawings with text, and the following examples of work all reflect the outcomes I aspire to.

I like gritty, dark and atmospheric outcomes that give a sense of rawness, I find anything too polished lacks character, and the sense of real life. I want to try and portray real life situations.

Project Proposal Aims, Methods and Realisation

My idea for the area of investigation is the Butterfly Effect. I have always been fascinated with thinking ‘if I had done this instead’ or ‘if I chose to go here rather than there’ where would I be now? And how would my life be altered.

This leaves a lot of scope for possibilities for creation; I could take it in a personal way, and create a series of books, starting with my original and true life, and then create a new book for an element of change, essentially designing a new life...from having done something else instead. This could be a series of however many books I choose, the amount is limitless.

Or I could take the idea into a more conceptual way, representing the idea through symbols and drawing. Anyhow I want to explore the idea in many ways until I find the best way of reflecting how by making a small decision, it can really alter your life.

Ultimately I would like the outcome to be in the form of a printed newspaper (newspaperclub.co.uk) so this means I will have to bear in mind the costs for the printing, the format, and the time taken to order, print and receive the newspaper so it reaches me in time for the final exhibition.

Research sources will be watching films (The Butterfly Effect, Sliding Doors, Run Lola Run, Slacker), reading into the theories of the Butterfly effect and the chaos theory, and also reading artist books for possible connections with the Butterfly Effect (Semiconductor: Worlds in Flux). I could also interview a number of people, asking about any important decisions which helped to define where they are now, and where could they been had they gone with the other option?

Evaluation

I will constantly maintain my blog (kate-smallshaw.blogspot.com) to evaluate and show the progress in my work. I am also keeping a written journal so I can jot down any idea’s or write any information instantly. I will get feedback of my project though critiques with my class, and tutorials with my tutors.

Assignment 5: Final Outcome

Assignment 5: Preparation for Final Film Pt.2