3rd May- Flag//Banner Work (Planning, Reflections & Relevance)

3rd May- Flag//Banner Work (Planning, Reflections & Relevance)

Initial Plan for work-

Investigation/Experimentation/Concept

My recent work with textiles, namely banners and floor coverings has lead me down the path of flag investigation. The fact that material has long been used in revolt, protest and to stand up to power is a very powerful symbol. I first made a large piece of textiles with writing on and later this work. The work with writing on has been made into a dress. This has been work in a gallery setting. Its direct message being very leading to the viewer in a number of ways. This work however relies on visuality. Symbols, shapes and colour to blend into the surrounding area and ask questions of what it means to be a flag, hold a message and embody an aim. This work is still in early stage investigation however I feel it links heavily to what I was doing at the beginning of the year with clay. Visual cues and materials are a valid and effective way for the viewer to engage with a message. If the backing message is political and offers alternative commentary, does that visuality then become radicalised or remain within its own right. These are the concepts this work is taking further. I built this idea on the notion that ships and people once could only enter land by the coast. Flags were used to mark territory as well as signal messages to others. This Flag is a differing message. That of creativity and creative interpretation. Further to this, I have been developing film work and considering what It means to have sound or no sound. A recent collaboration that was shown in 'How text lives'  was a silent film. This was to symbolise the fact that so many are not willing to listen anyway. Therefore to reflect on that and move forward I have filmed what the flag would see as well as the view of the flag from the shore. This footage of silence is a similar concept yet with sound. Reflecting on the fact so many will be more willing to engage in a creative conversation with a visually pleasing and interesting object that plane text or information. I really wanted to focus on what the flag/banner can see and hear. What it is looking out onto the world, the coast, the protest. I wanted to consider the noise and silence. The sight of silence.

Evaluation

To improve this work and take it further I feel using a banner with words on to juxtapose the symbolic. The words and writing on a banner next to the visual work. I also think It would be effective to move this specific banner around to urban places to investigate the implications there. Enrichment through art is beneficial in a number of ways yet will the urban reaction equal the rural. The rural reaction was positive, with passers by taking picture to send to family they said. They expressed how the colours compliment the land and that seeing art in such a rural setting is amazing. However, there were very few people that did see the work.