Experimenting with text and poetry: a creative thought process, Part One

Towards the latter part of the second year of my BAFA degree at Blackburn College, I began incorporating text in the form of poetry into my visual work. This evolved through research and experimentation set in a sketch book, and used as a journal to depict my own thoughts and feelings about my life experiences and the immediacy of events happening in my life at that present time. This eventually evolved into a video installation piece, where I used my own body as the canvas for my words. This can be found in detail at http://paulajartyear2.wordpress.com

Sketchbook examples from year 2 below

Above and below: Using collage and photography, and self made poetry to represent emotions

Above: Projections of self composed poetry onto my upper torso/face and photographed by fellow student Michelle Elaine Ayers.

Stills taken from final video installation. 

 

My dissertation is centred around art as a therapy, and I have always used my own art as a way of deciphering, and unclogging situations. Honing in on the emotional aspect of my life. As a nurse, reflection is a massive part of my day to day practice, and whether it was consciously, or unconsciously done, it has manifested itself into aspects of my art, as it is such a big part of who I am.  The dissertation strongly related to the experimental research I had done in year 2 about childhood mental health and my own experiences as a mother.

Experimenting with poetry, materials and text 

above and below:  sketchbook ideas using Japanese posca pens with fabric, printed and book text with self written poetry

I began the 3rd year by starting a sketchbook with random creative ideas as I had enjoyed the process that had led me to the video installation during year 2.  It was a way for me to relax into a new challenge, taking inspiration from the Vivienne Westwood T-shirt’s exhibited in the British Textile Biennial held in Blackburn earlier in the year. 

 

Korean culture and traditional Hangul text poetry

I am finding myself drawn in by the phenomenon of Korean pop culture, the music, cultural beliefs and language becoming a great source of creative interest to me. I have been reading translated Korean poetry, and find such beauty in the traditional hangul text. I plan to do a full study on this upon completion of my degree, with the aims of having a solo exhibition based solely around the control of Korean idols and the toxicity of the industry. This was something I didn’t feel that I could fully immerse myself into at present, as there was still so much exploration to do with regards to my personal experiences and what I want to ultimately achieve to showcase my work for the degree show. However, I did enjoy the freedom of exploring ideas in my sketch book using the Koran love poetry of Kim Yong-taek, and collaging imagery and text together, in a style that has become a massive part of my work.

 

Blackout Poetry

When doing the experimental research module in year 2, I used a representation of a Japanese Orihon and incorporated some blackout poetry as a drawing tool. This enabled me to experiment with line, form and poetry and opened myself up to a new creative process.

I decided to continue this form of experimentation in my sketchbook as another element of thought process, with ideas starting to form for the degree show. Using pages from old novels I had sourced from the charity shop, I did a series of images/designs and made my own poetry from the existing words.

 

I always find this method of working useful, in order for me to loosen up creatively and set me onto a research pathway.  I wanted to revisit some ideas to see if there was any scope for evolvement, and what I did find is that I have become more creative with writing and poetry.  Since ‘The Great Austerity’ exhibition towards the end of my 1st year, I have found a fascination in using words or text in my artwork.  I have explored and created poetry, and this has manifested itself throughout my work, and my artwork has grown in response to this, definitely an element I wanted to continue with into my 3rd year. 

LINKS

Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/paulajaneart/

Facebook    https://m.facebook.com/paulajaneart

youtube.     https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkvVihM7bFqaFIWOHXp_J-A