CrumpArt

The assignment for one of my classes this sememster was to think about “the self” and create two print-based works in response to that. I may have mentioned it before, but I’m basically running the “science meets art” route, and am looking at spheres and circles to represent myself. I chose the sphere when I read a joke in a science book about how physicists tend to think of everything in the universe as a sphere in order to solve any problem — the idea is to think about only the essential elements, because the tendency is to focus on the minor details if you don’t dismiss them as irrelevant.

So, of course, I took the essential elements and made them into a complicated thing.

First of all, I set up some rules for myself. I had to print within a circular area. I only wanted to use lithography. I had to end up with 23 circles, and each circle had to reference one area of myself. I couldn’t use pictures of myself, and limited myself to using collected images or things to make the work. Each of the 23 circles had to contain a pair of prints for chromosomal reasons. I wanted to print on silk because it’s a natural woven fibre, and it has that whole “life cycle” vibe. I could only print in primary colours, because they are the colours that make up all the other colours in print work.

At first, I struggled to come up with ways I could show myself, and I didn’t know how I would make it to 23. Now, having printed everything, there’s so much more I’d like to include. In the picture above, you can see my name, my physical identity and my computer. Below is the tattoos I want, my favourite film, what I like to drink, my physical features and my favourite music.

And here is the person I love most of all, the place I grew up, my politics, my collections, my sex, the whole writing thing, my favourite food and my date of birth.

I have a couple of sets of these, and the plan is to lay them out and sew them together in different ways, and the one that works best is what will end up as the final piece. I don’t quite know how I’ll install it yet, being as it’s double-sided and all… Here’s a couple more fun shots that I took this morning of it all laid out.

And finally, here’s the one circle I had to represent my friends.

Side one:

Side two: