1st August – Reflecting on Year 1 So Far…

1^st August 2017

Martin Williams

MA Visual Arts: Designer Maker

Review of 1^st Year Projects

Project 1: ‘Tactiforms’; September-December 2016

3 keywords:

3 positives:

Explored a range of different textures and people’s response to textural (subversive) qualities
Began to explore amorphous forms that felt ‘just right’ while making and while holding
Looked good as a whole set/collection

3 negatives:

The work seems more like a scientific experiment with little aesthetic/artistic merit
The project is somewhat unfinished in that the results didn’t lead to any specific outcome
The general quality of the making was questioned by my peers/mentors

Project 2: ‘Tacti-Vessels’; January-April 2017

3 keywords:

3 Positives:

The forms had a function, and therefore some kind of outcome or resolution of the contexts/concepts was tangible
Making skills were stretched in learning the mold-making process for casting; keen to use this skill again
Tried to push irrational revulsion of texture further by making forms which reference human (sexual and gastro) anatomy

3 Negatives:

The pieces were quite cliché and gimmicky
The pieces were not finished to a high or useable standard (glazing)
There were fundamental issues with the usability, by the material of choice: ceramic (i.e. small, brittle, breakable parts)

Project 3: ‘Object, Language, Landscape’; May-July 2017

3 keywords:

3 Positives:

Enjoyed making these pieces – it felt like fun, and ambitious (installation)
Gut instinct about which objects to make, which objects were ‘iconic’
Really pleased with the colour, plus the cheekiness of using car paint instead of glaze

3 Negatives:

The pieces were not finished to a consistent high standard – some where better made than others
Some objects did not hold enough meaning on their own, and made the viewer question to their inclusion
The size of the objects or the number of objects needs to increase to maximize presence