Research - Key post 1

After finally finding some inspiration in relation to my designs I decided that now would be a good time to start thinking about what product I wanted to make. I looked at the products available in the Whitworth and decided I wanted to try and create something that isn’t already available. I researched various Gallery Shops, such as the V&A, MoMA and the TATE, in order to familiarise myself with the kinds of products that are on the market in a similar setting. Some of the ideas I had for final products included tea towels, cushions, stationary, umbrellas and men’s ties and so I began researching these items from the various gallery websites.

Images from: V&A.com, MoMA.com

After the visit in New York I remembered how Bradley Rothenburg had created something unique by using unfamiliar materials, and there was one material I had in mind that I have wanted to try for a while, and I felt that the Whitworth would be the perfect opportunity. I thought that using Thermochromic and Hydrochromic dyes for printing would be something PLAYFULL and INTELLIGENT, and PERSONAL – e.g. with regards to the idea that the print would respond to an individual’s body heat, changing and disappearing. My initial idea was to create umbrella designs using Hydrochromic dye, which I realised is becoming a fairly popular idea and I wanted to push myself a little further, which Is then when I thought about designing a line of swimwear using the same dyes. However I realised that the idea of swimwear wouldn’t really fit well with the shops at the Whitworth. So I then started to explore possibilities for the use of the Thermochromic dyes, as I thought they might be a more suitable choice for the gallery. Based on this idea I knew that the final product I chose would have to be something which buyers connect with physically. This is when I started looking into various clutch bag designers.

Kenzo –Spring (2014) , GiGi New York (2015), Rihanna Phillips – A/W (2013)

I started testing prints with the Thermochromic dyes, initially just so that I could gain an understanding of how they worked, so for example, testing if they would print on top of a standard pigment print and what would be revealed or removed from the print when heat is applied. After creating some tester samples I knew that this was the idea I wished to pursue, and I pitched this idea to my group and tutors in my next tutorial.

Visiting The Whitworth

As soon as I was back from New York I made it my priority to go to the Whitworth gallery and take a look around. The new gallery took me by surprise, I hadn’t been to the gallery whilst it was previously open, and so I guess I didn’t really know what it would be like. From the outside the period red brick building did not suggest at the surprising modern interior, with large open spaces and glass walls. I know that one of aims of the Whitworth gallery was to create a space where the indoors and outdoors merged seamlessly and I think this was achieved beautifully. Whilst looking at the work through-out the gallery I noticed that a few themes kept subconsciously reappearing. Things such as:

·      -   Symmetry (Composition with Horns (double flat) 2005)

·      -   Fragments and Pieces (Cold Dark Matter: An exploded view 1991)

·     -    Grids and Squares (Cornelia Parker – Bullet Drawings)

·     -    Reflections and Glass (David Batchelor’s Plato’s Disco 2015)

From this I developed many initial ideas that I felt really inspired by. Including Symmetrical placement prints for fashion, Hand Stitched cushions, mirroring Cornelia Parkers hand stitch metal drawings, and glass sun catchers inspired by the grand work of David Batchelor. However whilst in my first tutorial, it was explained to me that the work had to reflect the gallery, not the individual artists work, because their work was part of temporary exhibitions, it would mean that my inspiration was coming from the artists and not the Whitworth.

After this development I felt a little set back, and after having missed the first week for the trip to New York I knew that I lacked progress. So I made another trip to the gallery hoping to spark another source of inspiration, this time something influenced by the gallery. This time around the sun was shining through the glass windows, reflections of trees covering the gallery and I knew then that my starting point for this project was outside.

So I set to work, taking photographs, collecting fallen leaves and sticks and doing leaf and tree rubbings to capture the textures. I took all this home and began to work on some drawings, I knew I needed to create a range of drawings which could be manipulated into designs for my prints. I kept trying to draw and respond to my images, but I still felt slightly deflated. These are some of my drawings.

Whilst I like what I achieved here I didn’t understand how to develop my drawings into designs. I knew that the key feature of my drawings that caught my attention was the textures. The leaf rubbings really captured an abstract nature which excited me. So I decided to work to my strengths and started working digitally with my images, creating simple repeats representing the idea of symmetry and grids which seems to be consistent through-out the gallery, therefore still taking inspiration from some of my favourite pieces of work, without directly linking it to the artist’s work.

New York

During the first week of unit X I spent my time in New York visiting Galleries and various practioners. I found the entire trip extremely inspiring, from awe inspiring architecture to eye catching and aspirational artwork.

Bradley Rothenburg was one of the practitioners we were lucky enough to be able to visit. I found his work to be really inspirational and innovative. Using 3D printing to create fabrics suitable for fashion outcomes is the main focus of his current work. One collaboration in particular caught my attention, whilst working with Victoria secret Rothenburg has created a 3D masterpiece. The snow and ice inspired costume really worked well at creating a ground breaking and original piece, paving the way for fashion inspired by the future.

 Bradley rothenburg i work - Images:https://uk.pinterest.com/Beckyleanne0473/unit-x-the-whitworth/

The second visit which really inspired me was the talk and tour at Flavour Paper, the specialist screen print wallpaper design company. I found the entire experience here amazing and has genuinely given me something to aspire to. I think that being able to be part of a design team for a company like that would be incredible. Not only did the team seem to collaborate well, but the range of work produced at a company like would mean a constant uninterrupted source of inspiration and creativity. The idea of a wallpaper company that still silk screens by hand is beautiful to me as I personally enjoy the traditional technique of screen printing, and being able to see the production quantities and quality of the wallpaper produced was motivating.

Both of these visits have changed how I will look at my own work in the future. It has taught me that to stay ahead in the design game, I need to be more innovative, I need to take creative risks and push my work as far as I can. The way Bradley Rothenburg is taking 3D printing and pushing it into a new creative practice just proves that there is still a world of possibilities to be discovered and I would like to start working with more unusual products and materials. Also seeing a successful print company like Flavour Paper has really given me something to aspire towards, and I now have a slightly better understanding of what it would be like to work in the industry, even though I still have copious amounts to learn.

Along with the insight I gained I have also developed a collection of stimulating photographs, from art work to architecture, the endless amounts of inspiration from these images will help to keep me creatively developing my work.