Abstraction and Minimalism in Painting

My research this past week consisted mostly of refreshing my memory with linguistic anthropological studies that have characterized language as a basic system that features innumerable combinations of words to produce an infinite number of complete thoughts. I think this is the direction my project will most likely take in the future because it highlights the importance of recognizing the complexity of language and promotes a thoughtful consideration of the philosophical implications of this integral component of our lives. Through language, we are able to communicate such abstract things such as the beauty we perceive or the emotions we feel, and as such, it is important to reflect on the power that this system has. 

This week I decided to focus on producing a refined mock-up that mainly featured acrylic paint. I mainly produced abstract imagery that retained a minimalist aura in order to reflect the systematic function of language. The minimalist aesthetic functions as a reflection of the infinite possibilities for communication and expression made possible through spoken language. I utilized a geometric abstraction in my mock up to illustrate how language's organization permits us to convey and share ideas and abstract concepts. In this study I also applied the paint in a grid-like fashion and as precise pieces to reflect how language allows us to take small components (like the letters and words that make up each language) and form them into full, complete thoughts. I also utilized minimalism/abstraction to reflect the images I display in my video pieces. The idea behind this approach was to visually represent the signified and signifier always present in language, but in a way that reveals its true existence as a mere symbol (for instance, the grey lines may remind the viewer of the blinds in my video, but only because they are visually similar; one could make the argument that these are simply lines on a canvas, and are only identified as blinds because that is what we decide to classify them as). Overall, I am very satisfied with the direction the project is heading, and am looking forward to continue evolving the imagery, scale, and video portions of the artwork. 

Combination of Video and Paint

This week I have mostly worked on producing a refined version of last week's mock up piece by combining video with different mediums such as photography and watercolor. I have been trying to experiment with different mediums to produce abstract imagery. My biggest challenge with this piece has been the creation of the drawings/paintings/collages because I have been trying to find the right balance between abstraction and minimalism. However, I think it is important to visualize a larger piece with more than one moving segment.

In terms of research for the week, I have been revisiting the bulk of my research from last semester that I feel remains relevant. Specifically, I revisited my research around philosophers like Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, and Baudrillard. I'm now focusing on honing in specific ideas from these sources, such as Baudrillard's commentary on the hyperreal (and its relation to the interpretation of reality through different languages), Nietzsche's questioning of language as an accurate interpretation of reality, and Wittgenstein's view of language as an organized, codified system. I believe this will be my biggest challenge, to convey these ideas within the visual representations of reality that I produce.

Spanish/English

My main focus for the research I engaged in centers around art projections in museum spaces. Ever since critique, I have been trying to look for ideas that can help me envision a possible installation approach and in doing so, enrich my attempt to produce more art. I think it will be extremely important for me to vigorously investigate details like these that will ultimately inform the work itself.

This week I received feedback on the progress of my work since last semester. I was able to shoot new footage for the video piece and I made sure to test out the use of English text alongside the spoken Spanish. In my most recent video edit, I focused on the use of the black screen as a quiet space that is inevitably filled with substance as a result of the English text. Taking my viewers into account, this means that while only a certain number of people would be able to understand the Spanish component of the piece, everyone would understand the English text.

I also decided to visualize an idea I have had since last semester by making a small mock-up version of what I envision to be a larger piece. In it, I was testing out the effectiveness of combining the moving image with the still, drawn portraits of the sky as a way to parallel language's impact concerning different interpretations of the same thing. 

Formally, I am pleased with how this version looks and am interested to see how a larger, more refined piece with multiple screens would look like.