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First steps

1/9/2018

3 Comments

 
​The first step is always the hardest when making something. I’m not sure I’ve ever made something so it could remake me as Elaine Scarry suggests, not in any conscious way anyway. In any case, I’ve spent my time today in trains and on cafes (I wrote this the wrong way round but on reflection, quite like it) trying to trick my brain into unlocking its creative juices – with mixed results. I’ve been jotting down various streams of consciousness and decided to dedicate this first day to writing.
 
I’ve often found reflecting on my work and talking about it helps shape my own understanding of where I was mentally when making it, so in some way, I can relate to Scarry.
 
After working on a text-based project late last year and after looking at your work Peter, I wanted to work with text, something that I’ve wanted to incorporate into my work more and more. With that in mind, I started the day by thinking about Scarry’s quote and theme ‘dissent’. I started writing from the word dissent and then took key words from each writing exercise to start the next. Eventually this brought me to the topic of – voice and language in a body of text.
 
So I find myself at this point, thinking about when dissent is present in a text and what a performance gives a piece of text. It’s funny that you’re looking at contemporary politicians, as it is something that came up during my writing (in the context of performance and delivery of a text).
 
This is the most exciting yet daunting point in the creative process and I can relate to your struggle – the struggle to understand, the struggle to create and the struggle to make. I think my biggest struggle will be evolving any writing into something other than a piece of text, which is where I seem to be heading.
 
*I did take some pictures to go with this post but the scribbles in my notebook seem as un-photogenic as their writer.  
3 Comments
Susan Francis
1/10/2018 09:30:48 am

Great to see your interactions, and an insight to your thought processes. I’m currently looking at a piece of text work by Peter with the simple words ‘I’m glad you’re alive’, a woodcut print which Peter has given away thousands of and will continue to until the block gives out. Interesting that both of you felt that the quote by Elaine Scarry wasn’t entirely relevant. Both of your past performance works, which seem to either subvert and unsettle the viewer/particpant’s normal environment , or involve them in alternative narratives, suggest to me that you are playing with the potential of ‘remaking us’, rewiring our experience and our own thought processes through your work, whether that’s through provocative juxtaposition of texts as in Peter’s current piece, or in your playful explorations James, where the text itself is leading you from one avenue of thought to another. Perhaps the process of dissenting is a process of remaking.

Reply
Peter Driver
1/11/2018 01:35:06 pm

Thanks James, and Susan. I agree, the work seeks to 'remake', or at least provoke reflection within, the minds of others. I am changed too but more as a byproduct of the engagement.
It would be good, James to develop something text-based. I am also interested in the stuff we share about the environment, landscape, walking and wonder if we could find a way to combine the two.
Currently sat in UCLH. ll write more later when I get home.

Reply
Karen link
1/19/2018 05:26:21 pm

I am late reading these entries due to a big studio move.... but am glad now I actually have the weekend to read & understand each comment & reply in context with your block1 collaboration..

Brilliant interaction from what I have read so far. I am reading through your comments picturing what you are making and thinking and how it relates to me as I read it.

Susan says remaking us or rewriting our experience and Peter I agree with you the work for me "provokes reflection within" my mind so I thank you & James as my minds creativity works from continually reflecting looking and engaging, for me this "byproduct" often becomes the trigger for a new thought or a trigger for subconsciously looking at my source material in a slightly different or possibly more informed way. Karen




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BLOCK_CHAIN > THE POWER OF TWO Copyright © Chapel Arts Studios 2018
  • Home
  • ABOUT
  • ARTISTS
  • BLOCKS
    • BLOCK_I
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    • BLOCK_IV
    • BLOCK_V
    • BLOCK_VI
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  • SYMPOSIUM
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  • CONTACT