SW+15+-+Installation

Installation Media: Interior paint, acrylic paint on walls Size: 3 x 6 meters Month of Completion: February 2013

This studio work depicts a stereotypical room of an Egyptian of the lower class. It is supposed to have an empathetic mood. The idea of a room struck me when I was about to create my second part of the video. I was attempting to make a room that is similar to a photograph I have seen from an anonymous artist. However, after discussing this photograph with my art teacher and doing further research, I have found that the room I was using as reference was referencing a room of a Scottish of the lower class. To have a more culturally relevant piece, I have moved passed the idea of the video (which would have been more difficult and time-consuming to execute since I do not have the knowledge required to make the video) and decided to make a room. I have made it into an installation instead of a painting or another 2D piece because I also wanted to create a sense of familiarity. During the exhibition, spectators will be allowed to sit on the couch, but they would not be permitted to touch or to place any objects on the table due to it being fragile. Also, since //She// is of similar cultural context, I will be hanging the piece within the installation.
 * Description:**

My initial artist influence was anonymous, since I have stumbled upon his or her photograph accidentally. However, after further research, I have used Ken Adam's watercolor set designs as an inspiration to properly develop my installation. I have used his technique of thin-layered watercolor to make a proper plan of the room, as well as objects that have been drawn to scale using the exact measurements.
 * Analysis:**
 * What were the artistic and/or cultural influences for this project? Who/what influenced either the composition and/or the style.**

To make the walls I have used interior paint as well as acrylic paint. Furthermore, I have used watercolor to create a plan for the installation. I have used a roller, a brush and a sponge to create the effect of worn-out walls. Firstly, I applied dark brown layer throughout the entire wall. Secondly, I added a beige color at the top and had it fade into the darker layer at the bottom. In the third layer, I added a light grey color in between the beige and the dark brown and sponged the edges to add to the effect of distressed walls. For the fourth and final layer I added light blue blotches to reduce the plainness of the beige. Throughout, I attempted to show the dark layer by pushing out the layers atop using a sponge.
 * What materials/media/processes did you use and or experiment with, and how?**

In my first trial, the brown was two dark and I had only used white to attempt the effect of worn-out walls. My art teacher said that it did create the effect, however, it would have been more successful if I had done something similar to what I had in my IWB. I went back and painted over the trial using another dark brown layer to a create a plain base. I then proceeded with the process explained in the previous question. Generally, my peers have understood that it was my intention to paint this way and were aware of the effect I attempted to produce. Since this is an installation that relies on the viewers' experience, it was relieving to have people who have not heard of my intentions to perceive the walls the way I wanted them to perceive the walls. My teacher also recommended that instead of making something similar to may initial photograph, I would include cultural aspects to it instead. In response to that suggestion, I have included Arabic cushions, crates in which vegetables are sold in, unglazed wooden furniture. I might be adding more items by the exhibition, such as a water jug or another a glass of tea.
 * How do you think you have responded to advice and criticism during this project (and during the term), both from fellow students and the teacher. Did you actively seek advice? If so, was it useful?**

I feel that this piece needs more items added to reflect on the cultural intent behind it. Also, the light blue blotches in the wall look as though they have been purposefully applied in the areas in which they are at, which I did not intend. Although this was not as time-consuming as some of my other pieces, this was physically tiring.
 * Clearly explain the weaknesses/areas for improvement -**

I think that generally, the walls were successful because they look distressed rather than neatly painted. Also, the furniture included fits the theme of this piece.
 * Clearly explain the strengths of the piece –**

Throughout my this piece, I have been simultaneously researching and practicing observational drawing and crosshatching. For my next piece, I will either be doing a self-portrait observational drawing or a crosshatching drawing of the subject used in the pointillism piece "She." IWB pages: media type="custom" key="22193800"
 * What could you take through to the next project and develop further? This could be anything, from a technique to an idea, not neccessarily just the theme.**