Blog entries – Page 2 – FMP Domestic Violence

April 27, 2019June 11, 2019

painting males face in sections experiment

Unfortunately due to running out of time I was unable to do this experiment however I believe that it would have been a good piece that showed the meaning of being hidden and the idea of domestic abuse being invisible to society. If I had the time I would have developed this idea by using words in the sections of the face as well as using colours that would represent the depressing and suffocating emotions of the victim I would have also experimented with how the face would look and what faces the male would be pulling, for example I would have got him to silently shout as this would give the influence that he was trying to be heard.

April 27, 2019June 11, 2019

Make-up on a male model experiment

Dear Journal,

Today I have created a bruised and abused look on a male model after experimenting with a female model I have now gained confidence when using the the make up and have now done it again for my final piece using a bruise wheel. From doing it on the female model I was able to then figure out where the bruisesshould be done on the face which would then make the biggest impact possible in showing abuse I then used this to create the same look on the male model, for the lighting I decided to experiment with different coloured plastic sheets which I then placed over a light and then reflected it at the model for example I used orange this gave off an orange/red glow onto the face and surroundings however this created a warm and welcoming sense which was not what I wanted to portray there for i chose not to use them images in my final piece. However I then moved on to just the camera light and a black back ground however the black did not seem as pure back as it was in real life but the camera picked up the grains and other colours within it which again lead me to start out other backgrounds this was when I decided to use my purple blind as the background, at the time it was light out side so I wasn’t to sure how that would come through the blind and camera however I was surprisingly shocked at the out come as the purple seemed to fade and get darker the further out of the face you were I liked this as it was not just black but seemed to be more interesting and deep looking as well as it being an unusual dark purple I feel that it brought out the face much better then the other backgrounds and linked in with the colours of the bruises which made it all look linked in and as one piece.

I decided to use this image bellow for my final piece. This is because I loved the eye contact the male has with the camera which creates a sense of connection between the image and the public and I believe that eyes show stories so I found it important for the image to show the eyes and to make that connection as when their eyes are closed you often feel shut out or ignored but that person however I wanted the public to seek he was teaching out and trying to tell them something without saying a word. I also chose this image because of the purple/black background which makes the bruises stand put as well as the eyes which are the two main components to telling the story of the image.

The images created using the coloured plastic which I found created a lovely look which was unique and welcoming however although I liked the warmth of the image it did not highlight the bruises well and they almost became invisible which would then mean people would struggle to see the meaning behind the image also the warm sense was not what I wished to create as I wanted the image to be cold and harsh so as people approach it they know it is something much more less welcoming and is a powerful image with a strong meaning behind it.

I tried getting the model to act as though they were flinching with their hands as if they were having to protect their face however on some of these I was not sure if the hands in the image was too much as well as the smashed glass over the frame however I thought that some turned out quite powerful.

April 18, 2019June 11, 2019

FMP projecting words experiment

Dear journal,

today I have been experimenting with projecting words onto faces and other materials, to capture images that express the reality of domestic abuse with a clear picture of what words can be related with the subjects.

This image is one of my favourite because of the way I placed the writing so that the words ‘abuse’ in bold goes across the mouth area suggesting to the viewer that they don’t have a voice in the relationship and that they are being controlled and restricted by their partner or self-esteem almost as if the word ‘abuse’ is representing tape over their mouth and gives the allusion that their mouth is covered even though it is not it is only words projected onto it however by doing this it creates the sense of suffocation and being unable to talk, drawing the viewer to the mouth area which is also what is used through Lulu Guinness who also draws attention to the mouth area e.g. the lips I liked the idea that she used a particular area of the face to create handbags and other items as it could represent so much with being so simple. as the way I have First I decided to project the words onto a manikins face to create a an non characteristic approach giving the face no identity, the reason for this is that I wanted to see and feel the effect of it not being an actual persons face to give the allusion that this could be anyone of any gender or age, whereas if this was a womans face I think men would find it hard to relate to the piece or would feel that it is not expressing who domestic abuse effects appropriately or fairly when men are abused by women too. this could also make a man viewing the piece feel uncomfortable and judged when looking at it as if the piece of art is trying to portray men as the abusive sex however this is not my aim therefore I have chose to experiment on a manikin. also I feel that when experimenting with the projectors distance and type of face its being projecting on I realised that when being projected onto the manikin the words are a lot clearer and easier to read wo when they are projected on a real face as shown below. I think it has came out clearer because the face is all one colour which is a light cream/white colour.

I then projected the words onto a female model to create more of a personal effect I tried multiple arrangements with where the words were projected as well as the directions the person was facing this was to explore with what to me created the best image which was balanced between being personal and creating the right connection between the viewer and person in the image. personally I found that when the model made eye contact at the camera and looked directly into the lens it created a strong and emotional image as most people see the eyes as looking into the soul and seeing true emotion through them, I also believe that you make a much stronger connection with people by looking at/into their eyes as it often helps to tell a story.

once typing up words that I personally thought represented the emotions of a victim of domestic abuse using the primary research into articles and other resources I then arranged them in a collage printed it on paper then copied it onto a sheet of plastic, this means that the face behind the projection comes through between the words and the two combine.

April 15, 2019June 11, 2019

FMP 15/04/2019 Nan Goldin

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/nan-goldin-2649

Nan Goldin is an artist that uses her past experiences to create powerful art/images expressing raw emotions and telling a story.

This is a colour photograph of Nan Goldin staring directly at the camera. Intense red blood in the white of her swollen left eye mirrors the shade of her lipstick. Dark bruises colour the skin around it and below her right eye. In contrast to the physical damage she defiantly offers to the camera, she appears well groomed. Her hair is glossy and well brushed and, she is wearing bright red lipstick, as well as dangly earrings and a necklace this is something that i had not thought about i.e. the contrast between the neatness of the surroundings around the face and the sudden brutality of the sharpness of the face showing a divide yet combination of two different lifestyles or the attempt of trying to act like things are normal although they are clearly not however by fixing her hair and wearing make-up i.e. lipstick she is still a pretty woman and feels better about her self. after seeing this piece of work I then decided to use make-up to create a similar look on a female model using technique’s which Nan Goldin used e.g. looking directly at the camera lens as well as using a dark background to really bring the tension on her face which she has done by having herself against a piece of dark wooden furniture. The dark shadows behind her head indicate the use of a flash bulb this is also something that I have experimented with when taking the images as I used flash as well as taking images without flash to see what the difference was and what I thought helped give depth to the image like what’s portrayed in the image above, to see how I experimented and tested out my own images using the camera and make-up click on this link: 04/04/19 experimenting with make-up . what shocked me even more was that this image represented a stage in Nan Goldin’s life where she was in a violent relationship, I found this out when reading further into the story behind the image, the idea that the image represents the artists own life experience to make the image so much more personal and when looking at it you see more then just an artist with a talent but see someone that still sees beauty in the disruption and chaos of an abusive relationship and a brave woman for sharing it so purely and in such a raw way, however I still strongly believe that the image its self without reading the story behind it still sends a powerful message and portrays the brutality of a controlling relationship further more when I first saw the photograph I immediately thought of abuse or some kind of pain with that many deep bruises and in the areas they were In the image suggested that something was not right with the woman or woman’s life, it reflects a negative reaction and the sense of unease which to me is a powerful effect and immediately invites you to ask why she is in that way as well as this coming back to the fact that she has her hair neat and make-up on again suggests to me that she may be a normal woman trying to live a normal life however the bruises on her face suggest otherwise. It is also shown in Goldin’s more recent slide show series of self-portraits titled All By Myself 1995-6. She has explained the situation leading up to this image. which is shown below:

“For a number of years I was deeply involved with a man. We were well suited
emotionally and the relationship became very interdependent. Jealousy was used to
inspire passion. His concept of relationships was rooted in … romantic idealism … I craved the dependency, the adoration, the satisfaction, the security, but sometimes I felt claustrophobic. We were addicted to the amount of love the relationship supplied … Things between us started to break down, but neither of us could make the break. The desire was constantly rein-spired at the same time that the dissatisfaction became undeniable. Our sexual obsession remained one of the hooks. One night, he battered me severely, almost blinding me.” -Nan Goldin reference: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/goldin-nan-one-month-after-being-battered-p78045

Nan Goldin expresses and shows a great example, through art and words, of the harsh and devastating effects of domestic violence, as well as the effects after breaking away from the abuse. By having the courage to express her ordeal through art she has shown that you are able to move on from the pain and feeling of suffocating, but you can use your experience to help others to connect with the issue and to bring light on such a dark and avoided topic, this I very much admire her for, and how she demonstrates the raw reality of a disruptive and violent relationship.

I have also learnt when using the make-up to create the harsh look that the more yellow/green the colour of the bruise is the older the longer its been there and the older the bruise, within the image of Nan Goldin this is also reflected as the colours of the bruises are fairly yellow and I would say that there is almost no red or purple this is runs along the story behind the image as it says ” It marks the end of a long-term relationship” suggesting that the image reflects all the bruises and marks made over a long period of time which is why they are shown as old bruises and creates a deeper meaning.

I have been comparing my work to Nan Goldings image and have been using tactics that she has also used to create a photograph in which she has created with such depth and meaning.

April 15, 2019June 11, 2019

FMP 15/04/2019 Lulu Guinness

Lulu Guinness creates accessories such as handbags where a facial feature, the lips, is the main feature and the only detailed part of the accessory. the reason in me researching this artist further is that I liked the idea of something so simple becoming the main aspect of the piece and how it creates such a bold statement and look using only a few vibrant colours to create a strong contrast between the shapes to me this creates an eye-catching look that stands out from everyday environments and creates a bold statement i.e. proud of being a woman as well as showcasing their wealth or individuality and uniqueness, this is something Lulu Guinness portrayed not only in her art work and fashion statements but by wearing vibrant red lipstick on a daily basis this became her unique look and soon became a fashion statement through out her work, this meant that it was personalised to the artists personality and any piece with the red lips on could be easily identified as her work which helped Lulu to be remembered and known.

How I link it to my work:

The lips/mouth is a basic feature that all humans have and need to function i.e. to eat and to communicate through sound.

April 15, 2019June 11, 2019

FMP feedback/survey on what people see when asked about domestic abuse

I asked 6 different people at random to tell me what they first think of then I say ‘domestic abuse’.

This will then help me to have a further understanding of how domestic abuse is portrayed and seen as by the public, to understand this is crucial to my projects final piece as the piece of art work will be in the public eye and should be able to help the viewers to see deeper into the meaning of ‘domestic abuse’.

Here are the answers I received:

Person A “I automatically see it as men being the violent ones, as that’s what you often see in the news all this talk of women standing up against the abuse. Its hard to picture it the other way around to be honest”.

Person B “I think its an uncomfortable and horrible subject that is never really talked about. to be honest I would feel like I was interfering if ever I got involved in other peoples relationships”

Person C “errrm, I have never really been asked about it so I’m not sure what I think of the subject other then that all people should be treated equally and people shouldn’t be afraid of talking about it”

Person D “To be honest I think the first thing that people think of when they hear ‘domestic abuse’ is the victims, but I strongly believe that the people that are abusive also have a story and a reason to why they are like that, and I think that is just as important”

Person E “I’m not sure what comes to mind, other then its something that’s defiantly become more open to talk about, as I often see it in articles and the news but I still think more awareness is needed.

Person F “I see it as something that is not love and the abuser should be punished as its a horrible way to live, to live in fear of the one you love, what’s even more scary is that the victims don’t even see it but think that its the mans way of showing love its almost like a slow and silent killer”

What I have taken/learned from this survey:

When looking at it overall I have noticed a common perception and theme within the opinions I.E. many of the people included in the survey do not mention a woman being the abuser but either don’t mention the gender or type of person that’s violent or when stating their opinion, describe the abuser as male e.g. Person A states “I automatically see it as men being the violent ones” this is something that I have noticed is quite common within the public and is something through my project and final piece in which I can change. Within my project proposal I questioned why people might see the abuse as one sided, labelling men as the violent ones as the idea of it being women is often ignored, however Person A then also goes on to say why she sees it as mainly “men being the violent ones” as she quotes “often see in the news all this talk of women standing up against the abuse, Its hard to picture it the other way around” this helped me to understand further and to give me a good idea of where the one-sided view comes from this will also help me to look further into other subjects such as the news or articles to see what is already out there and to see how they show the stories of others within domestic relationships. my next step based of person A statement will be to look further into the way domestic abuse is told and expressed to the public through social media and weather it does lead a one-sided view on the subject. Going back to the first point, the people in the survey only using men as an example of an abuser, this continues to be shown through the comments made by person F when they go on to say how its “the mans way” of showing love to their partner when really he is hurting them. the fact that Person F automatically described the abuser as a man while expressing their thoughts shows that it came natural to them to suggest that the abuser was a male, to me this is enough to show that people are too comfortable with the idea of male abusers and it is a habit to label them that way, and naturally assume its a male as well as showing that they are comfortable with describing their thoughts on the subject by specific gender or type. this is something that I do not want to be a habit but for people to think more before using gender to describe and separate the victims to the abusers as it could be either way. This suggests that as people we do not show equality and balance as well as we should and are very much influenced by the media and not the bigger picture which is also shown by person A when expressing her opinion based on the news. Person E also mentions the media such as the “news” and “articles” suggesting that the subject of domestic abuse is slowly being talked about more however is it being expressed in the right way?. With the idea that the media is becoming a strong influence on young people as well as the older generations I believe that once completing this project I would then develop it further in the future by setting up a workshop based around Art therapy and connecting with others, a place that will be based on life away from the media and for opinions, problems and mental health issues to be explored without the influence of the media.

While listening to peoples perceptions on domestic abuse I found that some individual’s had unique ways of looking at the subject which I have not thought of while working on the project for example Person D stated “The first thing that people think of when they hear ‘domestic abuse’ is the victims, but I strongly believe that the people that are abusive also have a story and a reason to why they are like that, and I think that is just as important” they imply the importance of understanding why the abuser is violent and how they came to be like that, I had not thought of looking at it from the abusers side however I have mentioned in the response to feedback post that I would like to think of setting up workshops for victims of abuse and mental health as well as the people who reflect violence on others, to help them to come away from the abusive destructive side of their personality’s and to improve as a person.

overall I have been able to collect primary research that has not been twisted by social media but is the publics true opinions, this helps to create an accurate and relatable collection of research to help me to create a piece of art that can communicate with the society in a clear and strong way.

furthermore I will now be taking in account of the feedback and using it to go forward with my design by creating a piece that shows others that it is not just women that experience abuse but it is also men I can do this by creating, using make-up, a look on a male model of them being beaten to show the contrast in victims, if I have time I will expand this to elderly also and will use an elderly as a model to create a sensitive and powerful look. I have already done this with a female model and have liked the outcome and the powerful and clear message I feel it shows.

April 15, 2019June 11, 2019

FMP an interview with person B (primary research)

Interviewing person B about a member of their staff showing signs of being controlled an abused.

Person B “I own a pub and I’m their constantly helping staff and making sure things are always on track and up to scratch. I have a lot of staff members and I work closely with them, I notice when they are having a bad day or if something is troubling them. I feel like its also my job to look after them and to make them feel safe when at work, however one of my youngest staff members Lucy who has been working with me for about a year now, has constantly been turning up to work late for the past three to four months which is highly unlike her as Lucy has always turned up on time. what’s worse is that I have noticed bruise marks have been appearing and around her wrists and face, I’m guessing they are in other placed to however the uniform is always covering as much of her body as it can. She has been turning up with these marks for around three months now as well as being late and the sudden change of character, that instantly made me question if something was going on what we didn’t know about when the strange marks and change of character all happened within a few weeks of each other. I only recently found out that she is in a new relationship with a man who is a few years older, Lucy is 18 whereas her partner is 22. Their relationship started about the same time that she started being late and the bruises started to appear, but the big question was how would I bring it up in conversation? how would I approach the matter without scaring her away, I didn’t want her to become uncomfortable around me as I have took so long to create a healthy relationship with her like I do with all my staff. I think the subject of domestic abuse is so hidden these days that to even assume or ask a person if they are okay can be enough to scare them away as its something that it not normally talked about and has become a thing that is almost shamed upon and is something that should be faced alone. Its hard to see her walking into work in the mornings she looks so drained and broken not like she used to be its so saddening to see and everyone else can see the pain and difference in her too she’s just not the same girl. About a week ago I asked the question if she was okay I could tell she didn’t know how to answer but she said that she was so I asked her about the marks and bruises she said “I’m clumsy” so I took it further by asking “does he hurt you” she just replied with a simple “he loves me, and I love him okay…he doesn’t mean too just leave me alone” she said it very calmly and I backed off I was scared I would have damaged the relationship between us and made it awkward. I keep a close eye on Lucy now and make sure the rest of the staff do to, I’ve talked to local police and made everyone aware, I occasionally still ask her if she’s okay but I get the same reply. its heart-breaking to see her like that such a sweet hard working girl, drained of energy and passion. I think its so hard to get involved you risk loosing any communication you already have with them I just wish she wasn’t so blinded by his charm and she had the strength to speak out.

April 11, 2019June 11, 2019

FMP 11/04/19 (2 week half term plan)

Dear Journal,

Today is our last day before the 2 half ter during today I will be making another plan on what I am going to do over the two week holiday as will as working out what I will be doing today to make the most of the time in the workshop.

Rough Listing of things to complete over the 2 weeks:

Get a deep frame
Blow up the selected photograph
Smashed glass
Go to hobby craft
Research in detail
Collect around 10 more artists based around my work
Collect more primary research (go into Birmingham)
Take pictures of a boy bring abused
Project words on person
Find words typed on word to do with domestic violence.
Design sheets based on final ideas
Material mood boards
Do glass face with sheet
Mosaic art pottery

Two week plan :

Thursday: Last day of college before Easter break

Friday: Day with family

Saturday: relax day

Sunday: Conkers with family

Monday: Work on blog (interview with person A) type up what they say and feedback on what they have said and how it has helped me and the project.

Tuesday: Write about tow artists that I have found have influenced me and my work (artists include Loo Loo Guinness and her handbags and Nan Goldin)

Wednesday: adding images of artists to pages in sketchbook with will link my work together better. orthodontist at 2:30 army cadets in evening work must be done in morning.

Thursday:

Friday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

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April 5, 2019June 11, 2019

2/04/19 response to feedback

Dear diary,

Today I was assessed by my tutors and was given feedback on how to further develop my project by experimenting as well as background research.

I personally feel that I have not included enough research within my work this is something that the tutors have also highlighted and this is an area I will defiantly add to and improve on.I will do this by expanding in my knowledge of domestic abuse by researching statistics between men and women as we’ll as elderly, this will give me a better understanding of what types of people are mainly effected by domestic abuse and who the society mainly see as the victims. this will further help me to create a piece of work that can relate to those effected by domestic abuse and to also reach out to those who are not to help them to have a clearer understanding of what it is and the emotions that people caught up in domestic abuse feel daily, further more by reaching out to those not effected as well as those who are, and expressing the emotions within the subject the piece of art will help make people more aware of the issue and on going problem, by this people may be encouraged to help victims e.g. volunteering to local domestic abuse charity’s/helping someone to speak out about the issue. If a victim this may encourage them to speak out to family or charity/try art therapy/reach out to a domestic abuse charity. By the end of my project my goal is to have created a powerful, moving and inspiring piece of work that people will respond too in a positive way such as reaching out for help/support or helping others facing domestic violence.

Following my feedback I will also be talking to a person who will remain anonymous who attend’s a social club after dealing with the loss of a family member. I will be doing this to widen my knowledge on what is out there for people who need support with everyday issues e.g. domestic abuse/the loss of a family member. This also includes research about the impact of Art Therapy that can also be away of expressing emotions. I will be interviewing a person, that will also stay anonymous, who has attended Art Therapy sessions this will help me to understand the ways that people express emotions and fears weather it is through expressing it through art or just getting out of the house and socialising. with this information I will then go on to further develop ways in which my work can be a way of expressing that domestic abuse isn’t something that should be hidden or out of sight but should be something that brings people together showing that they are not alone e.g. through a social club/art therapy. Another social club that I will be looking at and researching into is “men with sheds” which is an association that enables men to talk freely to each other about issues however without the pressure.

By researching into ways that people cope with everyday problems and expanding on my knowledge on how to help those that feel suffocated or feel that they have no voice I can then take this with me into the future where I can then explore ways in which I can also do the same e.g. opening a workshop where any age groups or gender can attend, and learn the skills of art and in ways in which it can then be used to express emotions. Further more a workshop gives people the chance to learn new skills/become more sociable/meet people who have experienced other problems or difficulties/express emotions through either talking or if proffered through art.

Following further feedback I will also be collecting leaflets/photographs/and primary research on helplines and other workshops linked to domestic abuse as well as other issues. this will also contribute to widening my knowledge on what’s out there and ways to help others through my work and having a meaning behind my project.

April 4, 2019June 11, 2019