Frances Hansen's reasons for using the materials she does, is as simple as wanting to save the earth..
It sounds like a long shot, but Hansen believes that by doing her part and recycling materials to use in her practice, she is achieving this.
''Rescuing' Rubbish - Extending its 'life''
In today's lecture we saw Hansen's works through a slide show, which did not really allow us to see much detail but gave us an overall feel or her work. Also as she spoke, we gained an insight as to what materials she uses in her work, where they're from and why she uses them.
Domestic household objects are a favourite of Hansens. Two Litre milk bottles, cleaning products, and old cane baskets. Her Daughters drawings from creche are also something she likes to use in her works, one even features in on of Hansens works in the MSVA library!
As said before, Hansen uses recycled objects in her work, because she wants to extends its (rubbish) life, and by producing art from this rubbish, she is renewing its life.
In my practice, I do not really look at materials in that way, i usually choose the materials based on the look I am trying to achieve. My main field of interest is Graphic Design/Typography, getting a lot of inspiration from David Carson, Banksy and looking through design books and magazines. Ideas for materials come from these sources as well. I like to use glass to use as a base material, to screen print on or to simply mark make using markers. I like to use glass as it can be interpreted into many different meanings, Layers to represent generations, history, age. Transparency to represent the idea of loss, forgetfulness, seeing through things no one else can see. Ideas like that. I also like to use photographic paper to print on. Not only it is neat to print, but it gives my work an overall feel of professionally produced contemporary work.
The words professional and contemporary do not really spring to mind when i think of Hansen's work. Because at first glance it looks messy and rushed. This however is my personal opinion, so to others this may seem different. But when you learn of the process Hansen employs when making her work, you realise it is rather contemporary and professional.
So ultimately Hansen uses the materials she does, to help the rubbish have an extended life and so its get a chance to renew its itself.
only two of the four entries completed, please get up to date with the blog. You are identifying key ideas but it would be good to see you push your thinking a bit further. Is 'rubbish' really the word to describe the materials Hansen uses? Packaging yes, found materials yes, but is it rubbish? Is that Frances' word or your perception? I thought your comments about making work that looks professional and contemporary was interesting. These terms are very fluid so what happens if you are making work that looks like its professional and contemporary but then the meaning of those terms changes? your work then becomes unprofessional and non-contemporary. I think it is a dangerous strategy to make work to resemble things you admire. If you make your own work it might get called contemporary and professional by other people. The cover of the first Sex Pistols album was intentionally rough and unprofessional and undesigned but is now shown and referenced as a piece of exemplary design.
ReplyDeleteThanks Grant. I will keep more up to date. thanks for the feedback. will take into consideration
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