CONTEXT SHEET

Final Proposal

My final proposal is to create a movable and changeable exhibition screen in the form of digital tiles. The installation would originally show my Manchester inkblots which are based upon marks and memories that have been made in Manchester in the past, however the screen could then be used a single screen or multiple screens to show new students and staff artwork as marks they have made in Manchester. 

  Concentrating on the idea of interaction and change, I wanted the tiles to facilitate new patterns and marks being made from my designs which is why the tiles slide to change position on the wall.This way my original designs will never become stagnant or 'boring'. The movement will also allow variation for the digital exhibitions that can be uploaded onto it. 

I think digital exhibitions could be a very new, exciting and practical way of students to show their work in a public environment. The art world will always hands on and traditional however it is becoming increasingly modern and digital and I think that this screen could help students to begin to show their work in a digital way, ready for their working careers. 

 As the screen would be of a substantial size and the tiles would be in large numbers, I needed to come up with a way to allow anyone to be able to move the screens interactively. This shows itself in the form of a smaller replica of the tiles lower down on the wall. These would be digitally connected to the working tiles and act like a sliding puzzle remote. For example when you move a tile on the remote, the corresponding larger tile would move on the wall above. I think this is an easy, simple and fun way of interacting with the screen.

 The screen could be installed inside the new building in a large space such as the reception. However, I think a better idea would be to have it on the large blank wall on the side of the new art school so that the public could see the work as well. 

I wanted my final design to be new, exciting and useable and I think that the PIXEL SCREEN achieves this.

PIXILATE

Mechanics and Movement

I have been deliberating a number of methods to allow the tiles to move and to allow the students and staff to rearrange them as they wish. One method that grabbed my attention was that of a children's sliding puzzle. I like the simple design of these toys and the simple movement of the tiles within. I think it would be great to use these movements and methods for my tiled installation and it is a wonderful notion to think that such amazing and complicated patterns could be made from such simple actions. 

I wouldn't take on all aspects of the sliding puzzle though as this could be too restrictive. For example I wouldn't use the square shape and frame, instead opting for a wall system which allows the tiles to cover a larger area and also allow them to move to create unusual and unrestricted shapes.

 

Making Patterns With Pixels???

Interactivity in my project is very important and I'd like the new students to be able to create different patterns with the final installation.

  However I'd love the imagery to be changeable as well, and I think it would be a great idea to allow students to showcase their own work on the installation as part of the ever changing new art school. Therefore, instead of the tiles being made of glass or resin with the imagery trapped inside, as I had originally planned, the tiles will now be digital with the ability to move and have imagery uploaded onto them.

I've been playing around with my Manchester inkblot images to see what kind of patterns can be made with them in 'tile form'. Because the original images are made with inks, the patterns and marks which become apparent are soft and delicate but also strong in colour which i love! The images could change at regular intervals with the different inkblots I've created until a student books the screens to exhibit their work for an amount of time.

A CHANGE IN DIRECTION???

After a lot of editing and creating patterns with my inkblot images on photoshop, I've decided to use my images separately as the patterns seem to be taking away from the original features and textures. I have also decided I want my project to involve the new users of the building and for the outcome to be interactive so I'm now focusing my efforts on moving images and patterns. Maybe the tiles could be moved so that individuals could create their own patterns with my Manchester inkblots??? I would like my design to be constantly interesting and changing rather than static and I think this might be a way to move towards that criteria. Another point I have been discussing with myself is pixilation of my inkblots. 

This may allow me to use my images on a larger scale in my final design. It also suggests the use of square tiles which fits in with my project very well.

MODULE H

'Module H' is a wall hanging system design by Shigeru Ban in association with Hermes. The design comprises of an aluminium mesh with crafted leather/fabric tiles. The shape and form of the tiles can be chosen by the client therefore creating their own design. The mesh can be used as a room divider, a wall covering or a ceiling covering! I think this idea is brilliant and I love that the 'artwork' is left to the client to decide upon. This sort of flexibility and interaction is something I would like to develop within my project.

CV

Danusha Komar –CV

EDUCATIONAL CAREER

GCSEs- 12 GCSEs grades A* to B

AS Level- Art A, Design B, Photography B, Sociology A

A Level- Art A, Sociology B, Design C

 Art Foundation Year (Manchester Metropolitan University) – Merit

Degree- BA Textiles in Practise (Manchester Metropolitan University) – 2011-2014

WORK

JD Fashion Group Plc – October 2010- present

Part time Senior Sales Assistant.

As a senior sales assistant in the Adidas Originals shop in the Trafford Centre, I am in charge of my own section and staff on a regular basis on weekdays and on busy weekends. I am in charge of dealing with customers’ queries, managing staff and merchandising, which involves my creative skills as an artist/ designer. This means making sure that new or high selling lines are of prominent place in the shop and also making sure that the colour ways match and that the shop is looking its best at all times. It has also helped me to develop my interpersonal skills and time management.

ABOUT ME

I have always loved art and design from an early age and I have always been around art as my mother is an artist herself. For my GCSEs I chose as many art and design based subjects as possible which included an extra after school GCSE: Textiles. I gained A*s to As in all of my art based subjects (Art, Textiles, Design). Similarly in my AS Levels I chose to do an extra in the form of Photography. I gained a B in my Photography AS and it taught me techniques and methods a normal art A level could not.

I enjoyed my foundation thoroughly and it helped me to decide which particular area of art and design I wanted to go into (textiles). I also found during this time that I love to bounce ideas off other people and to work with other people to come up with new exciting ideas. I enjoyed my foundation at MMU so much that I decided to stay for my degree. I chose the BA Textiles in Practise degree because I thought it would give me a wide base of textiles skills and allow me to keep my options open as to which specific discipline I would finally go in to. So far the course has given me all of these things and my skills in many areas such as weaving and print have developed and are still developing. The course is big so I can carry on bouncing ideas off people and gaining new experiences every day.

MY INSPIRATIONS

I take inspiration from many aspects of life however my work tends to veer towards past movements and subcultures and peoples mental health and state of mind. For example I recently did some work based on the Hacienda and the Factory movement in 1990s Manchester for which I created both prints and weaves. I have in the past used natural world inspirations which I have enjoyed also.

MY WORK

My work tends to focus on colour and excitement. I love to combine colours to create eye-catching pieces and designs, mainly for fashion however some of my work could be used for interiors. I am not set on one particular discipline however I love to use weaving and print as the colours and effects I can create lend well to my work.

CURRENT WORK

I am currently doing work about inkblots and marks related to Manchester for Unit X in which I am to produce a piece of work for the new Art school building. I am choosing to make my design interactive as I want people to be able to create art work with it. This has been challenging however it has also been exciting and a great chance to learn about art projects outside of university and to network with other people.

REFERENCES

Tony Radcliffe- MMU foundation, Grosvenor Building, Oxford Road.

Kate Egan- MMU BA Textiles in Practise course leader.

Peter Harding- Manager, JD Sports Trafford centre.