develop

1, Initial meetings

It all started with a "group therapy" session, (if I want to be melodramatic)! Only, we decidedly wanted to stay away from politics & misery, even if we are to emphasize our origin stories: all of us, "Weird Things" are from the "outside" in one way or another, but especially in cultural sense. The differences of our places of origin and the "here" might be subtle, and we even feel like we belong "here" as much as anyone, even if not quite as seamlessly. The same way we are not quite "home" back home.

Outsiders?

So, first we agreed to look up on Outsider art, and liminal spaces; and especially entry points into countries. Physically? Metaphorically? In any way. Representations of our culture? An ideal place one would want to reach? Strange creatures and guardian beasts?
Also, what piece of art exactly?

Brainstorming with the WTC

2, My initial research to present to the group:

My proposed image to remake was this. But collectively, we agreed to this instead, to Laura's suggestion (although it was part of my research):

Thus, we came to an agreement to create a masked carnival in some shape or form; with the bridge, the costumed characters, etc. representing the idea and message we've been looking for in our initial brainstorming sessions.

3, The presentation I made for our first tutorial (additions from the others excluded):

Notes from tutorial session:

-More research into specific cultures, specific locations, specific carnivals (and their relevance?)
-think: specific location for intended exhibition – and WHY? Can it be Bristol, or elsewhere?
-think: audience?
-potentially related communities?
-understand: “cultural appropriation” and how to avoid it
-perfect “elevator pitch” to aid efficiency of future tutorials, and reaching out to organisations, etc.

4, My research after this session:

Various images by Max Ernst

Paintings by: Goya and James Ensor

Images by James Ensor

North American indigenous mask and traditional Irish Halloween mask

Japanese mask & James Ensor painting

This excellent book was found and recommended by Judit.

A pair to that book recommended by Kyle.

In pop-culture (related to social movement)

images: Lechuga, R. and S. & Thames & Hudson - Mask arts of Mexico (&next 4 slides)

5, My research into Hungarian visual references:

6, As a real life setting, I suggested:

The transitory exhibition. Travels around airport to airport in suitcases. (All of it should fit inside! -possible with AR)
Contents:

- Festive decorations
- posters of destinations (fantastical; utopias)
- passports, postcards, etc.Uniform Costume (to invoke carnival):

- Diff coloured shirts with bleached motifs/screen printed logo + black trousers
- 1 person with cape (mayor of the new land): six cuts of six national motifs, “umbrella cape”. (Don't get arrested in HK!) - to represent inclusivity
- Masks: migratory animals/ accidentally carried animals? + culturally significant?Additionally, to specify our message, we will display mock interviews - on own language/sim language
- with English subtitles that (don't?) match.
The Airport is a blank slate; the airport is a “third place”; the airport is a liminal space; the airport is the BRIDGE (or bridgehead).

Notes from second tutorial session:
-think about message/approach related to original artwork
-ways of making it contemporary
-the plane itself (in the air) is the bridge? -> ”leveler” in society; classes, backgrounds blur together
-can we occupy two spaces in the exhibition? (DEPARTURE and ARRIVAL)

7, Some progress was made in the library.