Final Major Project- Evaluation

Blackburn College                      

Pathway- 3D and Sculpture

Personal ID- 24758                       Learner Registration ID- 42966                  Centre Number-  47107

Evaluation

                My initial aim was to produce a thought provoking piece which expresses the disability dyslexia, through sight and not words, by using the human figure.

Whilst on the journey through my final major project I experienced many successes, predicaments and challenges, which I used to push my FMP forward. I recorded these experiences in many places, including my blog, sketchbook and journal. All the predicaments and challenges happened for a reason and have helped me identify the positive or negatives in my ideas and materials. From this, I have moved forward at each point.

As each week began there were new challenges to conquer and more ideas to explore as they unfolded as a consequence. From the beginning I found the subject I had chosen was vast and I had set myself an intriguing area to work in. I began by researching, visiting galleries and museums, viewing artworks that then triggered more ideas and approaches to materials.  I struggled to express my work in written form when writing the proposal and decided to focus on the disadvantages of my disability in a form in which I am confident, sculpture; therefore turning it to an advantage.

I began experimenting with the materials I had access to in the studio and explored what they offered me in my work. I experimented in trailing out the plaster but did not have the time or tools to be able to accomplish the full effect, so I responded to this by looking at how artists around me have used plaster casting in their work. Then, I had a good idea of the potential of the material if I were to continue with it. In this way, I was constantly experimenting, then researching, then experimenting again. I found this way of working across a range of materials was very successful and led me to my final piece, where I began the same process with hot glue.

Other experiments and pieces I produced included the bottle top man and the clay man, which were also very successful (after a few little accidents) and the final outcome works well. Despite the success of these pieces, the glue gun experiments and subsequent pieces were by far the most successful, both formally, aesthetically and more importantly in proposing the idea of helplessness and disembodied feelings that the dyslexia sufferer experiences when faced with writing their ideas down.

I feel that the final presentation of this work is stripped back and simple, which means not using my other final pieces, but demonstrates a curatorial element to my work. These are the pieces that work best in that space. I think it was good just using this selection as it has a better impact but it is a pity about the other pieces which are also really good. From discussing with others their view was that the more you put in the exhibition the more the art work begins to lose it’s language or value and quality.  The intention can become lost and confused.

I think I have struggled to stay objective as I have lost excitement and began not liking my hot glue gun pieces of work because I have worked on them for so long, they have lost there impact for me. But I have responded to peer and tutor feedback and made some difficult decisions. This is one of the most important things I have learned.

In conclusion, I feel that this has been a rigorous and exciting FMP that has resulted in an exhibition that is a departure from my starting point, but I have produced some very good work.