Historical Precedent visit to Firstsite Colchester, Agnes Denes - Week 5

We arrived early, so Audit Chaos and I explore the area:


Agnes Denes: Work 1967 – 2013
23 November 2013 – 9 March 2014

Budapest born artist, Agnes Denes, hasn’t had a solo exhibition in the UK since 1979. The New York based octogenarian’s work has been presented in a retrospective exhibition at Colchester’s Firstsite gallery, showcasing prints, drawings and photographs of her interventions.

Agnes’ work is strongly influenced by mathematics, philosophy, psychology, linguistics, history, music, science and environmental issues. Her drawings wouldn’t look out of place in the office of an engineer or architect; such is the skill and detail of her work, but move in closer and they become even more remarkable. Instead of dots making up the pattern it is hundreds of tiny human forms and not all of uniform shape either.

As humans, we tend to categorise people as being in one camp or another, scientist, artist etc but quite obviously the mould was broken with Agnes, as her talents appear to be in all camps.

Her Wheatfield – A Confrontation (1982), was an inspirational project, particularly with the juxtaposition of commercial and environmental imagery and even stronger by the twin towers being central focal points.

Wheatfield – A Confrontation (1982)

For me, the highest impact was that of her Manifesto. Those previously written by past Art Movements, such as for Futurism, were usually political statements or statements of not being political. Agnes Denes’ Manifesto is as different as it is moving:

Agnes was born in Hungary in 1931, moving to New York in 1954, exhibiting in hundreds of exhibitions around the world. She is a concept-based artist, who emerged in the 1960s and 1970. Her last UK exhibition was solo at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London. Her work also includes other written pieces such as Human Dust, proving her to be an all-round achiever and an inspiration to artists and scientists alike.

As we've moved around the gallery i've noticed the alternating light and shadows.

I want to create a response to Agnes' work, this I do in video format.

St Clement's Church (Lens Based Media) - Week 5

After last week's white and black space projections in collaboration with Audit Chaos, I projected direct in St Clement's Church:





I'm pleased with the results, but projecting the bible onto the floor showed an issue of it being the wrong way around for the way it then appeared on the floor projected from the projector:

Printmaking - Week 5

Sergeant James George Spindler and his Medals

On 23rd July 1918, my Maternal Grandfather, James George Spindler, was in the Battle of Sauvillers in France. He was driving one of the leading male tanks as Sergeant in the 9th Battalion Tank Corps. It was an important battle and the first time the French and English armies had directly fought together. In 1930, January, he and his regiment were awarded the French Medal Militaire and parchment, and given the privilege of wearing the badge of the 3rd French Division 'La Grenadiere'.




Map of the area.





This is my Grandfather with his Father, he must have been so proud of his son.

Before the First World War, James started out as a stonemason, like his Father before him, at Greyfriars in Ipswich. He returned to his job after the War, before taking over from his Father as Landlord at Uncle Tom's Cabin on Wherstead Road, Ipswich.

At the beginning of the semester, we were tasked with producing some work for a World War Commemoration event if we so wished. It was originally to be around April time, but has since been put back until later in the year. I felt that I wanted to produce something to pay homage to my Grandfather and chose print to do this:



The writing on the t-shirt back, is a copy of the letter sent to him outlining the battle, its importance and the award. I hope I have done him, the battle and the award justice.