Final Major Project - Exhibition Trips

The Photographer's Gallery:

Presentation at the Photographer's Galley - Author's Own

To start my research into pre-cinema animation devices I visited several galleries. The first was the photographer's gallery to see their camera obscura installation, amoung other exhibitions. The camera obscura is an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings on a screen. It was used in drawing and for entertainment, and was one of the inventions that led to photography and the camera. The device consists of a box or room with a hole in one side. Light from an passes through the hole and strikes a surface inside, where it is reproduced and rotated 180 degrees
but with colour and perspective preserved.

All images above Author's own, showing camera obscura in action reflecting part of Ramillies Street. The origins of this device can be traced to around 400 BCE and it is to this invention that all modern photography can be traced as it is the first instance where the ideas of capturing light to duplicate and retain an image.

 While at the Photographer's Gallery I also looked at their other exhibitions, including works by Andy Warhol and David Lynch. However, the one that particularly caught my eye was the work of William S. Burroughs.

' I drifted along taking shots when I could score. I ended up hooked' - Burroughs 1954. 

What struck me about his work was the use of narrative and storytelling in the static image. For example, seen below is a sequence of photographs depicting a bus crash in New York in 1965. What I like about this work is the sporadic way in which the event, or 'story' is revealed. The information is disjointed, as a person looking a around the seen and taking in everything at once would see it.

New York Bus Crash - 1965: as displayed in the Photographer's gallery. Photo is Author's own. 

Another example of narrative in Burrough's Work can be seen below as he photographs his bed before and after a sexual encounter. I really like the poignant simplicity in these images and the way in which it conveys a story beyond what we can see in the photos. These ideas of narrative I feel they are relevant in the use of pre-cinema animation devices as they all suggest some movement or story beyond what is shown. Therefore I hope that it will be possible for me to carry this theme through into my final project.

Series Entitles 'What Was, What Isn't' by William S. Burroughs - as displayed in The Photographer's Gallery

While gathering initial research for my project I also visited the science museum and looked at their exhibition about the 'making of the modern world' which has displays of all sorts of pre-cinema devices. This was very useful for understanding the devices on a technical level and that will form a good foundation for my further research:

World's First Camera

Collection of Stereoscopes, a Magic Lantern Project
and other pre-cinema devices

Final Major Project - Idea

For the final stage of a foundation degree course we invent our own project and are completely free to choose our own idea. At the end of seven weeks our work is externally examined and we a given our grade for the entire year. It is expected that we produce at least one sketchbook full of primary and secondary research and experimental development work, as well as a record of our progress on this blog. This will all lead to a final piece of our choosing depending on our areas of study, it could be, for instance, a collection design, a garment, a photoshoot or fashion film.

Deciding on a project was difficult as before beginning in-depth research it is not easy to determine the viability of a project - whether it will have enough potential to fill seven weeks and meet the criteria to create an interesting and experimental outcome. When considering ideas I thought back to the work done so far on this course and the skills it has given me, to help inspire possible starting points. I knew that I wanted a project that would  reflect my main area of interest within fashion and textile design: costume. Taking, for example, a book or film character to design for seemed a little too straightforward and narrow for my liking, as I wanted a more abstract concept that would encourage a more experimental and unpredictable final outcome. Also, as I am not continuing my creative studies to degree level (I will be studying philosophy next year at university) I wanted a project that drew its inspiration from areas beyond fashion. I also feel that projects that draw on pre-existing personal interests are inspiring and the passion shows in the quality of the work. With this in mind I considered several ideas, but finally decided on a project inspired by pre-cinematic optical toys, into which I would like to try and incorporate storytelling and character development themes.

My interest in this area was first inspired by my Granddad, who was the chair of the 'Magic Lantern Society of Great Britain' - an international group of "collectors, enthusiasts, students of film, visual media and popular culture, magicians, artists, performers, scientists and archival organisations" - (http://www.magiclantern.org.uk). This society focuses on collecting and preserving objects which pertain to the origins and development of modern cinema and photography.

Thaumatrope Necklace - Author's Own

When I was ten years old years old my granddad gave me my own stereoscope and assorted stereocards. At thirteen he gave me a thaumatrope necklace charm and since then my interest has grown. I can't quite say what it is that inspires me about this subject. Perhaps it is the personal connection through my grandfather, or perhaps just the fact that I think these objects are so extraordinary; either way, I am looking forward to exploring and researching this area and the themes which it will inspire. Although I am unsure of my end point at this stage, I feel that will make my work more experimental.

Stereoscope and Stereo-cards - Author's Own.

Variety of Optical Toys - 'The Animation Bible' by Maureen Furniss

Before we could start work on our projects, we had to write proposals for our ideas and pitch them to a tutor and our peers. The difficulty was coming up with an idea with enough depth to explore and research its themes for seven weeks, but which was still simple enough to reach a clear conclusion in a final piece within this time frame. Pitching our ideas and writing an action plan was a good way to determine if a project was viable as we had to explain our objectives and plan to develop our concepts, thereby exploring its possibilities and determining if it was understandable. We were also able to refine our plans through receiving feedback and constructive criticism from our peers. My biggest problem was explaining how my idea could be made relevant to a textile and fashion outcome and also explaining to my peers what the devices I want to research are, as these devices are rather obscure in a modern context. 

Proposal: 

Section 1: Review (Approx 150 words)

Reviewing my time so far on the Art and Design Foundation at Ravensbourne I can see a definite progression in the quality of my work and the skills I have at my disposal. In tutorials and workshops I have learnt how to structure and minimise my research so as to keep my work focused, how best to display work, and how to explore and develop an idea properly to reach its full potential. Practically speaking, a skill I have found very useful has been being taught how to use Photoshop to create and alter design digitally. This will help me particularly in my final major project as it will enable me to alter picture properties in order to create illusions, animation and 3D imaging. Within the fashion and textiles pathway, as my main area of interest is costume-related, this has been and will be helpful in perfecting my design and technical making skills, as well as how to convey and continue a clear idea from beginning to end of the project.

Section 2: Project Concept (approx 250 words)

For my final major project I plan to research pre-cinematic imaging techniques and experiment with creating my own styles to make textile-based illustrations for a short story. By looking at inventions such as the stereoscope, zoetrope, and thaumatrope, my initial research will move away from utilising textiles or thinking about an outfit/costume that would work on the figure. I will be experimenting with and researching film, photography, and fine art techniques, as well as looking at the themes and potential of these inventions as they have influenced modern cinematography.  Eventually I hope to be able to recreate my own moving and 3D images using the same fundamental techniques as these inventions. At this point they will be in a combination of media including textiles, some printed or sewn onto fabric, and some drawn. These finished images will illustrate a short story with a clear narrative structure (beginning, middle, end). For my final outcome I hope to be able to make an unconventional garment for this character using the illustrations as components, showing some influence of the era in which they were invented. I intend to use a simple colour palette throughout to create a cohesive feel, mostly in sepia tones with hints of bright red and contrasting blue to show the influence of 3D imaging. My final outcome will be a costume  that tells a clear story. I will then photograph my final garment in a styled shoot and maybe if I have time, link together my illustrations in a film to tell the short story.

Section 3: Evaluation (approx 100 words)

As I work through my final major project I will keep track of my progress and evaluate my outcomes by checking what I have achieved against my action plan and assessing what I have done on my blog. I will also develop my work in my sketchbook, so that I can experiment with and adapt my work and techniques when problems are encountered (which is likely to happen at my proposed idea is quite intricate in its way). Altogether this will allow me to recognise challenges early on and to focus my work and so that I can produce the best possible final outcome.

Magic Lantern Presentation

Thaumatrope Poster

Storyboard

Zoetrope Reel