first day of project self portrait, i started the project by doing the tasks, i have tried mutiple tasks, and got some nice look picture, but because i was too focus on completing tasks, the context of the picture was over looked. i thought too much of the framing and combination of the image and it become less connected with my title. in next  stage i will cnstart on my theme and stop overthinking and focus on deliver my message, which is how i oddley intercat with the world.

This week I first learned how to create pattern using Photoshop, then I visited digital print workshop, those two lessons helped me to plan my project a lot, because they showed me how far I can go in this project. This project is based on Sonia Delauney’s exhibition in Tate modern. I visited there on Saturday, I was attracted to her works by those vibrate colors and patterns at first, but when I started to learn more about her as an artist, those exhibits about her life interested me more. All exhibits are art pieces, but somehow those carpet, coat, swimsuit, box affected me more. Maybe it’s because they are everyday object so they are more alive in a way. In this project my first task is to create a pattern for digital print so I am going to concentrate on creating print first. The theme that I chose for this project is life with artificial environment. This was inspired by Sonia and her husband Robert paintings for art and technology’s exhibition. I am going to develop my project from unnatural and dirty to a natural final piece. I want to say no matter how much we try to fight the nature in order to create artificial environment which we think are more suitable for us, the most comfortable place is still the natural environment. All those material desire are pointless. We are just running away from what is we really need.

By today I have visited wood and plastic workshop, metal and casting workshop, also experienced printing workshop. There are lots of things I want to introduce into my project but unfortunately I don’t have the opportunity to use the workshop. Beside workshop I developed my print as well; they start with some observation drawings of artificial environment for example water pipe, wires and gears. I developed them to a colorful illustration, to show how does them look like in my eyes. I observed this illustration and start to see triangles squares and lines, I made a textile piece to highlight it, then I carry on develop it and create another painting made of geometric shapes and soft lines. By this point it looks much cleaner, but my aim was to develop unnatural to natural, this painting although is clean and gentle but it doesn’t have the natural atmosphere that I am after. I will develop from this image perhaps go massy again and combine different median to create the effect that I am looking for.

For my final printing I drew the hidden from that in all my pervious paintings, the brushes of watercolor give those geometric shapes a natural feeling. Every single of those shapes are hand draw there is no rapt in the final printing; I want it to haven organic feeling. Because I decide to use more knit in my project, so I went on to experiment different kind of knitting and combine them with fashion illustration to decide what it might turns out be. The illustrations are very rough is more like to show the feel of the clothes rather than shapes of the clothes in this stage. I used a lots bright color here, because I want to show the vibrate of life, Sonia Delaunay’s chose of color is influenced by her time of music and dance, my chose of color to show energy is influenced by my time which is more pop and also by Leutton Postle. Although illustrations are quiet good, but I don’t think it fit my context the best, my theme is life and artificial environment. I want to satirize people the seeking of fakeries. So I want my textile little bit wash out, but still has this cute style in my illustration. 

I have to improve my time manage sill, by Friday I didn’t finish my final garment either the sketch books, I always complained there was not enough time, it’s true that I didn’t had a lot time in the workshop but if I had plan it better, it won’t be in a such unfinished stage. I realized my disorganize by seeing other’s work, I saw so many classmates who were very on track with their work, it’s clear that they developed their project step by step, but I didn’t accomplish that, my project is rather massy, and hard to see my thought, there is gap in the sketchbooks and my thinking process, I realize now just how important is reflection, In the future I will reflect every single day to get myself back in track, and won’t find myself in this bad position again. Overall this project wasn’t successful, and by looking at others work, I know it could be completed, it just I didn’t plan my progress, there are time I am so into something just completely forget I have to carry on develop the project, for example I was putting too much attention on the knitting and the final garment and overlook the importance of the sketchbook, after all I need the sketchbook to explain to viewer what my garment is about.

Today was whole day fashion illustration practice, we took term to model for other. The keyword of today is Lose, drawing is quiet scary word for me, because observation drawing is my wick point, I like to abstract things but I also often caught up by ‘I should draw what is actually looks like’, today is all about letting those stress free and just draw by energy with soul. In a way I was learning how to be free. for example free from hard line and the appearance of the objects.

We also played ‘dress up’ on the model, of course their looks were funny, but they became very good drawing sources, models had abnormal structure which made creative process more exciting. At same time due to the fact there were lots of things happening I had a hard time to chose what to draw and what to leave blank, I had real trouble of not seeing what is in front of me. I realize this happen a lot to me not only in drawings but sample making as well, I often caught up by it should look like that and repeat same techniques therefor lose the adventure and fun. I want to be more brave and lose just in general, I want my works to be unexpected and surprising, I can’t do that when I’m constantly think about the techniques and what it should be, I should let go a bit more.

Today was my first time use machine embroidery, It’s very hard to work around machine and use it to draw what I want it to draw, eventually I learned how to use it, it’s a beautiful technique with many possibilities it can be lose and delicate, or be energetic and massive. while I was using the machine I realized the back of the fabric had a fun effect, I want to play with front and back more, and possibly use it in my future project. I also tried hand embroidery, it’s much slower than machine embroidery, but it have a effect that machine embroidery can not give, I can do long lose chunky stitches and add different media into it…there are endless possibilities. Those two techniques that I learned today are all luxury way of working, it’s all require time and patients, I think just because it’s need so many effect, outcome has a warm felling that it was taken care by somebody. This human touch is very important in my opinion because now days people are getting colder and colder, and more and more attach to technology, overlook the interaction between people. Therefore I will definitely use this traditional technique in future.

Brighton is a historically interesting place, It was poor and off the eyes of public until doctor Russell invented Seawater treatment, it was suddenly full of attraction. The treatment was a joke, but it did benefited Brighton’s economic. Now days it’s a tourist attraction. Because I went to Brighton with this story in mind, I wanted to do something about sea, Brighton Pier was breathtaking, it was so beautiful under a beautiful weather, I can’t help but attracted by it’s blue, it’s a combination of many colors, green yellow purple red blue white…One thing that set Brighton Pier apart from other beach is it’s rock patch, it’s not smooth like sand, it has an attitude just like it’s rock history. I realize although those rocks were placed there by people but it interacted with what already there and become one with the environment. I like how they interact with each other.

Brighton do have a unique atmosphere, everything is warm and colorful, there are so many colorful buildings, cute decorations, of course adorable residence. The whole atmosphere of Brighton is peaceful and fun, I would like to capture this element in my Brighton project. I love the fact every one in Brighton had taken care of this city, everywhere is clean, every building is clearly designed by someone no matter is a professional designer or is just the owner of the place, the fact some one put great effect into it to make it nice is touching. I want to let other experience this touching feeling like I did in Brighton, so I want to use handwork in this project, put my sweat into the project, hope viewers can see my love. I have decide my content now, but I do know I’m going to approach from nature.

I decided key words for this project are :Sea, Rock, Patch, blue, green. Sea interact with rock patch, blue add with green. nothing come pure in nature, I think embroidery is a very good technique for this project. because stitch effect both side, and I can let front’s color effect the color of the back. I explored different way of embroidery, I caught green plastic rope in the fabric which add a special effect into the textile, at the other side I used blue knitting yards. I like the contrast between those material, the fact they are so different but together represent my concept noting come pure. I hide one side of the embroidery by sowing another fabric over it. I want to create a fun experience for the viewer, when they flip it there is an surprise.

Third project is the most successful project so far, not because I made a outcome with big size or I learned knitting technique for that project. It’s successful because I worked fearlessly and pushed myself real hard during that project, although there was gabs in the sketchbook and development wasn’t documented properly, I still gained a valuable attitude which is do what is the best for the project not what is right, for example I knew that I won’t have enough time to knit the whole garment, but because I loved the natural of knitting and feel it was the best for my project, I just went with it. at the end I didn’t finish my final garment, but I manage to complete it during weekend, overall it was a successful project.

There are so many surprising troubles during this course, things like visa, bank card, police registration,rent… This course itself is a very intensive already, therefore I’m having problems with time management. Every project is challenging for me due to the fact they are short project like one week or two weeks long, and during that time I need to do both primary and secondary project, also do lots of experiments and large amount of samples.

The most difficult thing is I often have to exhibits my whole project with a final outcome on Friday. All of those things have to complete from Monday to Friday this with no doubt is my biggest challenge during this course. I always try my best to achieve what expected from me by working hard.

I tried to working smart during the Brighton project, I planed every step because of this there was not much passion in this project as you can see in sketchbook, although I made it on Friday, I don’t feel as happy as when I exhibited the third project, although it was unfinished oddly I felt I have achieved something, there were more positive feedback in third project, but deep down in my heart I knew I didn’t push myself as hard as the second project.

One thing I love about this course is there are lots of workshops that introduce new techniques to me, thanks to those workshops I have learned many new practical techniques, for example I learned how to deal with plastic and metal, and explored wood carving, knitting, and embroidery. I used knitting in my third project and double side embroidery in Brighton project and they turned out quite good.

There is one skill that have been built up during foundation plus which is my analyst skill, due to the fact I have to reflect everyday and do large amount of artist research. This really made me practiced on how to analyze what is more important and what is less important, this help me on develop my project efficiently which is a very useful for this intensive course.

Tutors are always around to give helps, sometimes when I’m off track they often give me honest feedbacks, preventing me failing the whole project consider they are very short projects. I get positive commons as well, it’s nice to be encouraged, making me want to work even harder.

I do enjoying to read briefs every time, It’s like a selected google. I can learn many contemporary artists and practicing designers. I can see many techniques that I have never seen before, I love to study all their works, I believe by open my eyes bigger, I opened my mind wielder. This what I have particularly like so far.

I’m preparing for my future course quite well in my opinion, at least I can say I know how to use sowing machine, knitting machine, also tried digital printing before. I’m going to study in CSM next September so I will have to use moodle, because I’m already stared to using it, when I start my BA course, I will be very familiar with the whole system and be more confident.

My future plan is to become a textile designer, right now I’m working my best towards this dream, as an art and design student my strengths is my passion and energy of wanting to work in textile, Although I get annoyed by time consuming making process and talk about give up time to time, I never actually give up or stopped working on my project, they maybe unfinished but I will always finish them outside of class.

There are 4 areas that I want to improve during the rest of course. First is my sketchbook skill, my sketchbook is always disorganize, sometime I forget sketchbook is for others to understand what I’m thinking, but sometime it become my secret code which can only understand by me. Second area is my reflection skill, I tend to repeat my day in the reflection journey, forget that I need to think further and plan my next step. Third area is content of my work, I want my work to have a strong context back it up, not just eye pleasing crafts. Fourth area that needed to improve is my writing skill, as an art and design student I will have to explain myself to the viewer, this require a good language skill, if I can produce a beautiful piece of writing to explain my work, it will become part of my art work and make it even better. those are what I’m planing to do in the rest of course.

today is about how to plan unit 7 project, this is what I have done today, and I will carry on develop them tomorrow

project titile : stubborn - things I believed as a child, although I know they are not true now, I still belive in them

art + design precedents

NO.2 NO.15 NO.19 NO.38 NO.39 NO.40 NO.42 (information file)

Relevance to my subject area:

How I understand textile is they are a way of let people touch, feel, play with something that were initial in somebody's mind. It’s a way to transform imaginary to reality, and this reality is not far away from viewer. This project is introduce my foolish thoughts from childhood to other, for others they might find difficult to understand why I believe in them so solid, but through textile they can use their all sense to understand me.

My personal context

I was in boarding school for a long period of time, from three years old till twelve years old. To make a boarding school more fun, I were not allow to bring my own toy, or play any toy, we had books instead. My only entertainment was the movie night once per week, and as a school that suppose to produce advance children, we had serious movie, I can’t remember their names or what they were about, but I can vaguely remember characters often wear lab coat or black suit. I spend 9 years in that school, watched countless movies, but there was one I watched when I was five years old, and I still remembered clearly. This film is ‘My neighbor totoro’. Imagine all those years separated from ‘children’s staff’, how precious that film was to me, and how much it must influenced me. I still check for totoro if I’m in country side, and every time I see a bus stop, I will think of catbus, and if it’s at a raining night I sometime stop for awhile and wait for him. Of course I know they are frictions from a film, I can’t explain by words how I feel and why I believe in them, but I just simply do.

cultural context

reference: NO.45

Delusional disorder

The following can indicate a delusion:

1 The patient expresses an idea or belief with unusual persistence or force.

2 That idea appears to have an undue influence on the patient's life, and the way of life is often altered to an inexplicable extent.

3 Despite his/her profound conviction, there is often a quality of secretiveness or suspicion when the patient is questioned about it.

4 The individual tends to be humorless and oversensitive, especially about the belief.

5 There is a quality of centrality: no matter how unlikely it is that these strange things are happening to him, the patient accepts them relatively unquestioningly.

6 An attempt to contradict the belief is likely to arouse an inappropriately strong emotional reaction, often with irritability and hostility.

7 The belief is, at the least, unlikely, and out of keeping with the patient's social, cultural and religious background.

8 The patient is emotionally over-invested in the idea and it overwhelms other elements of their psyche.

9 The delusion, if acted out, often leads to behaviors which are abnormal and/or out of character, although perhaps understandable in the light of the delusional beliefs.

10 Individuals who know the patient observe that the belief and behavior are uncharacteristic and alien

user/audience context

this project is for people who want to experience my illusion for a little while, this project will developed to something people use daily e.g. garment bag accessories.

Historical context

1 history of toys

reference V&A Museum of Childhood

2 history of story books

3 mythological figure

Time table of unit 7 day by day

third draft unit 7 proposal

section 1 progress and achievement

One thing I love about this course is there are lots of workshops that introduce new techniques to me, thanks to those workshops I can confidently use many new practical techniques now,There is one skill that have been built up during foundation plus which is my analyst skill, due to the fact I have to reflect everyday and do large amount of artist research. This really made me practiced on how to analyze what is more important and what is less important, this help me on develop my project efficiently which is a very useful for this intensive course. I’m more prepared and confident to start a new project than start of the course.

section 2 pathway choice

I’m certain that textile design is my pathway, I love creating things by hands, no matter how nerve breaking of the process, I love study traditional techniques and evolve them in my own way to produce new things. textile design for me is a way of let other people touch, feel, play with things that were initial in my mind&heart. It’s a way to transform imaginary to reality, and this reality is not far away from viewer. I can introduce my foolish thoughts to other, they might find difficult to understand me, but through textile they can use all senses, they not just simply looking, in this way my work can have more communication with audience. This is why I think textile is the right pathway for me.

section 3 project proposal aims and realization

I was in a straight boarding school during my entire childhood. I was not allow to play any toy or watch carton. My only entertainment was the movie night once per week, there was one I watched and still remembered clearly. This film is ‘My neighbor totoro’. that film was so precious to me, The amazement and joy I felt when I first saw it, had a huge impact on me, although I now know it’s just an animated fantasy film, characters in that movie are still very believable to me, probably due to my personal background. My aim is let my audience experience this precious amazement and joy like I did when I first saw Miyazaki Hayao’s movies, let them be foolish for a little while through a textile object. I will use mix medias which can be found in daily life to create an dreamy object that my audience can relate to also interact with, in order to do that I need to built a connection with my audience, make my work believable and visional at same time. I’m going to visit V&A museum of childhood for start, and study artist and designers who can produce works are believable, and create amazement at same time, e.g. Miyazaki Hayao, Pip and Pop, Nick Cave,Sayuri Sasaki Heman,Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdamusing… I will be investigating many textile techniques inspired by this broad range of research, including weaving, water solubles embroidery, shibori, lace making, fabric manipulation …to strengthen my project.

section 4 evaluation

I will reflect daily in this project, evaluate and analyst every steps and always plan on next day, I will always ask feedback from tutors both my classmate make sure my project is going well, and other can understand what massage that I am trying to deliver. I will keep on research through the whole project and use those researches from information file cleverly to built my project.