exploding head

i have been trying all day to write my research proposal and so far I have written the following:

Performing Virtual Space
Performativity of non-physical architecture
-journey, domestic space (public/private - window, door etc.), language (text), imagery, culture

But none the less, I do feel like I am getting somewhere. What with the crit and chatting to drawing students about my work, trying to explain my model (the bits of which are stuck on my wall at home) to ed's dad (my new landlord - owner of said wall) and now writing this proposal, I have found it rather necessary recently to be able to talk concisely about my ideas. This has forced me to narrow it down a bit, or at least to identify which bits are the most interesting. I have noticed how my work often goes in cycles, which i have always enjoyed because it means i can keep adding to it, improving it. Anyway, I seem to have come back to this thing about performativity, but in terms of this virtual space rather than real space. So I'm going to frame my research proposal in the same way in September (well similar), i.e. examining the performative impact of virtual space through the zones of language, domesticity etc (as listed above).

I am still battling with this architecture thing, which must be very dull for you all, but am starting to come to some conclusions about that too. I think I have spent far too much time worrying about it being a safety blanket, whilst at the same time feeling rather lost as I didnt feel i had a 'medium' through which to express my ideas. I realise now that although architecture, as a career, is definitely a safety blanket, I always felt like I could take it into more interesting places outside of the confines of that career. So whilst I don't want to restrict myself to just doing architectural stuff, I am not going to avoid it either. This makes me feel much happier, because I was feeling like the performance element of my work was really forced and unnatural, but by taking this approach I think (hope!) it will just happen.

look at me

oooh check me out, posting two days in a row.

spent the afternoon helping lushan with her workshop. whilst i am perfectly happy to do this, i am slightly confused about the what the workshops are really all about. Are they supposed to be a showcase of our individual work or a learning experience for the group? If its the former, then lushan's is very successful, we had a lot of fun rehearsing it with her and i think it will be great when it all comes together tomorrow night. However, I thought that Kirstie's was more what I was expecting, as it gave me an opportunity to learn something myself, whilst also getting to understand more about her project. What a pity Doug wasnt able to attend it.

anyway, this evening i went to the drawing show at Trinity Buoy Wharf with Karen. Was really just interested in one person's work (although it was all great - always love Doris and Mat Cahill's stuff)- Emily Speed, who was in my crit with me . Our work seems to have so much in common it almost seems silly we are not working together. So we are - as of tonight. Hooray. we are putting together a proposal for the centre for drawing (next deadline is in may), so we will hopefully have some time there next term. Doug was keen i did a bit more of this collaborating business, so i am. can't wait. watch this space.

sorry no pics this time.

dickens and dreams

wow what a day. tara arts, tate britain, sleep centre, first night at Richmond Drama School. whew.

always interesting to see how other people work, although tara arts don't really have anything in common with my work. Nonetheless, enjoyed seeing them, liked the chairs! Thanks Doug for organising.

Gothic Nightmares - amazing. Has really got me thinking about fantasy and fairy-tales, the virtual in terms of our imagination not just the internet. This was much closer to what i think of as fairy tale than the LePage thing. Need to read something clever on the subject of fairy-tale, any suggestions welcome!

Sleep centre - fascinating (well done Kirstie and thanks!). Ok so the guy was a bit of a prick, but I learnt something, a few things actually!

Nicholas Nickleby - well what can i say? the design-work was fantastic and the acting was not bad. No, seriously, I was thrilled with how it looked. Working with Kirstie is a dream, we both understand each others ideas completely and it makes the job so much easier and therefore more fun. So many positive comments about set and costume (especially costume, which came together so well) and I loved the way it worked together. Kirstie mentioned ed's painting which we used as the basis for the colour scheme, so i will use that as an excuse to show off his brilliant work (ok so i'm biased, but it is good!):

smile



i am so happy with the way my crit went, i felt like i did my work justice because i planned what to say and present etc., so all the questions/comments etc, were really relevant and helpful. I need to have a big think about it all before i decide on the next step, but i think the crit came at exactly the right time. Apart from everything else, i find the pressure of the crit is great for forcing you to get your thoughts in order about your work.

Things that were discussed:
Possibility of recreating the model as a virtual space
Am I really looking at 'space' (i.e. is this my 'medium') or am i using it as a safety blanket because I find it easy to understand/talk about?
Building models and fantasies as a method of control/empowerment
'Sims' and chatbots
The insularity of working at the hypersurface, is this interaction with the virtual something that can happen in anything other than an intimate environment - i.e. one person and their computer/imagination.
Why I don't perform myself...
Alter-egos, role-play and disguises
fantasy and fairytale - how important is this to my work?
Possibility of making a 'model' of my mind-space, in terms of rooms and furniture - let people in!
Dystopia and Utopia

Am really excited to get on with it now.

two ticks on my list

day one of the get-in was successfully completed. stage is built, table built, costumes sorted, stage painted (first coat), backboards painted, wobbly stage blocks secured... More info about Nicholas Nickleby on previous post

but most excitingly, my little experiment is complete! I have to say I was pretty amazed by the speed at which the whole thing descended into anarchy (helped along by one participant in particular)! Terrifying stuff really since i said they should think of their characters as alter-egos, exploring parts of themselves they normally keep hidden. We had an alcoholic by the end of session 1, a nymphomaniac, a rapist, a man with a midlife crisis (played by a girl in her thirties), and a psychic! I have to say it backed up doug's whole everything is sex and death theory, since they were all either having sex or trying to blow each other up. Anyway, here's some pics:

here goes...

manic week ahead, i have stage 1 of the get-in for the show at richmond this weekend, as well as my own 'experiment' which i am really looking forward to (although i'm kind of nervous as well). At last count i have 5 actors who have definitely said yes and one maybe. Fortunately, with this format, I can afford to be flexible. More about that after the weekend...

Just wanted to give you all the details for the show at richmond which is running 15th - 18th March, with (as always) some fantastic design work by me and kirstie. Its been great fun doing this one (Nicholas Nickleby adapted from the Dickens novel by David Edgar), Kirstie has been indulging her love of victoriana and I have been fiddling with the layout of a traditional theatre space. I hope what we will end up with is a really contemporary look constructed from elements of traditional victorian design. Anyway, hope you will all be able to make it...