Further reflections on tutorials with Dr Liam Devlin

There is an exciting development of the Apple Corporation and the "i-tribe" application, which uses a piece of hardware called the "i-tracker". One of the other students (Summer) described how this new application and device is finding that we as humans communicate more with our left-eye expression than the messages that we receive from and through our right eye.
[I wondered is this possible that it is because of "right brain" activity being a centre for creativity? Perhaps some further reading might be useful here, and I am thinking of the book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Dr Betty Edwards?]

In continuing the themes of digital media concepts, Dr Devlin recommended most strongly that we continue to take pictures of anything that takes our interest, and continue to think about this module as research to create a report of how we might have played with the ideas that the images bring us. An example of this type of practice might be seen in "Tableau Vivant: adventures for living" as in the works by Gregory Crewdson.

In the digital images or even analogue image reproduction, develop a drama in the composition through appropriate lighting, placement, constructed scenes and so on that are more real and mood driven. Play with experimenting in these areas. Another good example of the practice in this type of work would be the artist Bill Viola.

Other ideas include how the spectacle can be mediated, in particular by the media itself and the frissons of the possible.

 [Consider Martin Lange and his work which documents the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and how a huge meteorite obliterated a village.]

Another interesting resource book would be "The Great Un-Real." By Taiyo Onorato and Nico Krebs.

THE GREAT UNREAL, 2005 – 2009
C-PRINTS / SILVER GELATINE PRINTS, VARIOUS SIZES
SERIES PHOTOGRAPHED ON SEVERAL ROADTRIPS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES



And also perhaps see the film and book by Cormac McCarthy, "The Road" which describes a bleak world about hope, with its central characters being the relationship between a father and daughter.

Engage in all the little stories that might be inculcated within the details of an image including that which is going on in the background, and therefore what are the possible narratives that can be created from each engagement or intervention.

Conclusions;

In particular interest to my work, I need to look at the ideas of "the now" to hypnotise, yet stupor the viewer, through a kind of paradox. 

Tasks for next week:

• Dr Devlin suggested that I looked at the work of Liam O Flaherty and his extensive investigation of the Arron Isles, about "His First Flight" (Book). This is a non-sentimental discussion about the obsessive observation with detail and the sense of movement.
• Another great piece of work to look at is Helen Sear, and her films of red kites, and how people now interact with them. She has created some beautiful works using digital media for example sunflower continually opening and closing is imparted in her images together with a sense of taking time out, to think about "the now" and being "in the moment."