Individual Practice: Statement of Intent

Birmingham Institute of Art and Design

BA(Hons) Fine Art

Student:
Ben Chandler

School of Art

Level 4
Tutor:
L. Hewett & Y. Hindle

Module:
Establishing Practice
Date of completion
16/05/16

Module learning outcomes (on successful completion you will be able to do the following)

Through imaginative and speculative exploration, apply further developments in your knowledge and understanding of
processes, methods and materials
Articulate thinking and ideas in relation to broadening a range of practical and contextual research, including optional
external projects and placements
Apply analytical, critical and reflective skills in the development of a body of work
Apply developments in your range of technical, practical and manipulative skills appropriate to your ideas and concepts

Summative review of key issues raised in feedback and your previous module self appraisal
In both my previous rotations for Methods and Materials, I received a strong in all aspects of practice but the following section:
Engage in workshop practice in accordance to health and safety middle section, not in the strong section. I was aware of
health and safety practices in mind, but from this I have identified I need to get into the workshops more frequently and be more
explorative and not rely on readymades. Additionally, my final film stuttered slightly, and was more like a series of technical
exercises. My film work is typically very complex in construction, so I need to make my film idea more coherent. This is
something that needs a lot of time to prepare materials for and thus more time will be needed to make it.

Content of Investigation (including an explanation and rationale for the identified area/subject)
My Work is based on Entropy, Semiotics, and the Self, the paradoxes and conflicts within each area all are connected to my
observation of purposeful mystification of ideas and opinions that are in an art context
In a world that strives for order, I want to bring more to light the inevitable reaction: Order to Disorder/Chaos to Equilibrium. Using
a monochromatic colour palette in my metal, painting, and charcoal is a starting point, but should not be a total limitation.
Alongside the more conceptual fuelled work, I also wish to follow a minimalistic approach to photography, the opinions of the
viewer become important, allowing them to find refuge within the void. Most of my work is process-led, but this has no specific
contextual backdrop in particular. I am open to research, but it is predominately primary research through collecting results and
filtering it down on the basis of aesthetics and composition.

Processes/Materials/Workshops (describe in relation to the above. How does your choice relate to meaning?)
I am using Steel to construct my slumped forms to play with preconceived ideas of material properties, it is of purely simple, and
normally single processes used. I am however open to test various processes to see what else is available.
Charcoal is aesthetically connected my entropy idea with no connotation of colour and a scientific background of its origin from
previous life forms to document our own; Coal/carbon is crucial to art and life.
In regards to The Self, Video can display large quantities of visual and audio information at any one time, which allows me to
experiment with two senses simultaneously and how much information I want to give to the viewer. Representation, mystification,
and the lack of ability for others to fully see from my perspective of reality drives the work. This also applies for spontaneous and
constructed writing to play with expectation and reality.

Contextual Research (identified expansion of prior or new research)

Jas Ban Ader [artist]: Style, mood, tone, pathetic, humorous, heavy connection to my ideas.
Minimalism [movement]: Understanding such a movement will enable a critique of my current style and
reconsider aspects I had not taken so heavily into account. Art history will also give me various artists I wish
to explore, those who connect and those who propose new ideas to me.
Richard Serra [artist]: Monochromatic style, large sculptures about force, weight, process-led practice.
Further research: Malevichs square, Sontags On Photography, semiotics, David Nash, film theory, avantgarde films.
Signed Student
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