Thursday, July 14, 2016
A name for our exhibition
Gods and Masters became an exhibition called Camera Obscura in 2009 and showed in Smithfield's Lighthouse Cinema Exhibition area.
Monday, December 8, 2008
A Suggested Theme
In response to Lisa Marie's email, I would like to propose "Gods and Masters" as a name for our exhibition.
As I have attended crits and been involved in some of the discussions it would seem to me that this would be a fitting title for the work that is emerging . Perhaps at this point we might prepare with this open ended idea in mind.
Gods....do we believe in Them, Him, Her, all or none of the above. Do we reject the notion of such an influence? Is the idea of God an outmoded one in this society, or is there still such a presence for us here now in this world? Is God an idea invented by men and women, or are we in receipt of constant promptings and reminders through our dreams or our consciousness in some mysterious way?
Masters..... Are we masters, or servants? Do we suffer at the hands of bad masters? Do we learn from our masters? Would we be any better as masters? Are we masters in the lives of other people? Is society in general in the control of masters? Do we effectively rebel against bad mastery? Are we really in control of our lives, of our decisions, our choices or do we fool ourselves into believing that we are? Do we take control or do we passively hand it on for comfort and for an easy life? Is society in general enslaved or is it (as we are so often told) happy and free?
I think I have seen these questions asked in different ways through the work I have viewed to far this year. (As I tread here as gently as I can please forgive me if my memory fails) Daniel spoke of his dreams as having an importance more real than the everyday. Gareth spoke of a search for freedom through the making of his work. Owen spoke of the questions that arose for him in his work concerning the death of a relative and matters that were raised for him as a result. Michael mentioned issues of mastery when speaking about the presence of soldiers in a foreign land. Maria spoke today also of the thin veneer of pleasure that is easily peeled away as you look at images on the internet that people have posted there of themselves enjoying their freedom in night clubs, cafes and restaurants.
In the current climate would it not be a poignant and bold decision to take on the questions that are evoked by the title "Gods and Masters". I would like to be part of a group that was courageous enough to do so. Perhaps we could reflect concerns about where we stand in relation to this. Perhaps we may even ... dare I say it... have some of the answers to the ills made most prominent at this time. It may be that we have a positive contribution to make. We may want to say that we feel dominated by Masters that have insisted on leading us here. We may wish to remind them that we warned them but were ignored. We may wish to take our share in the blame for going along. Or we may wish to let it be known that we never travelled with them nor do we ever intend to!
Wherever we stand, it would be good, I feel, to take a view . Perhaps we may have a view that would be beneficial to share with the general public at this time. Perhaps we have found out that there is a God? Perhaps we blame God for the way things are? Perhaps we blame people who gave God too much or not enough importance? Perhaps we have our own vision of the spiritual and would like to share it? Or perhaps we would like to reason with people using logic and good argument that relies on no assumptions about spirituality? Perhaps as artists we have a philosophy that may be useful to be aware of. I could certainly give a few pointers in how to live life with less money!!!!
I do not propose through this choice of theme that we lecture the public on our enlightened or darkened perception of the world. But I do suggest that we move forward in a focused direction with a reason for exhibiting and with an urgency about what we want to say. How many exhibitions have you seen that lack this ingredient? As the name of our course suggests we are all seeking to become masters. What is that exactly in the context of art? Is this not the perfect moment to demonstrate our level of ability attained.... not because we want to be boastful or egotistical , but because we truly believe we have something important to say to a waiting audience.
I await your response...
Sean O'Dwyer
As I have attended crits and been involved in some of the discussions it would seem to me that this would be a fitting title for the work that is emerging . Perhaps at this point we might prepare with this open ended idea in mind.
Gods....do we believe in Them, Him, Her, all or none of the above. Do we reject the notion of such an influence? Is the idea of God an outmoded one in this society, or is there still such a presence for us here now in this world? Is God an idea invented by men and women, or are we in receipt of constant promptings and reminders through our dreams or our consciousness in some mysterious way?
Masters..... Are we masters, or servants? Do we suffer at the hands of bad masters? Do we learn from our masters? Would we be any better as masters? Are we masters in the lives of other people? Is society in general in the control of masters? Do we effectively rebel against bad mastery? Are we really in control of our lives, of our decisions, our choices or do we fool ourselves into believing that we are? Do we take control or do we passively hand it on for comfort and for an easy life? Is society in general enslaved or is it (as we are so often told) happy and free?
I think I have seen these questions asked in different ways through the work I have viewed to far this year. (As I tread here as gently as I can please forgive me if my memory fails) Daniel spoke of his dreams as having an importance more real than the everyday. Gareth spoke of a search for freedom through the making of his work. Owen spoke of the questions that arose for him in his work concerning the death of a relative and matters that were raised for him as a result. Michael mentioned issues of mastery when speaking about the presence of soldiers in a foreign land. Maria spoke today also of the thin veneer of pleasure that is easily peeled away as you look at images on the internet that people have posted there of themselves enjoying their freedom in night clubs, cafes and restaurants.
In the current climate would it not be a poignant and bold decision to take on the questions that are evoked by the title "Gods and Masters". I would like to be part of a group that was courageous enough to do so. Perhaps we could reflect concerns about where we stand in relation to this. Perhaps we may even ... dare I say it... have some of the answers to the ills made most prominent at this time. It may be that we have a positive contribution to make. We may want to say that we feel dominated by Masters that have insisted on leading us here. We may wish to remind them that we warned them but were ignored. We may wish to take our share in the blame for going along. Or we may wish to let it be known that we never travelled with them nor do we ever intend to!
Wherever we stand, it would be good, I feel, to take a view . Perhaps we may have a view that would be beneficial to share with the general public at this time. Perhaps we have found out that there is a God? Perhaps we blame God for the way things are? Perhaps we blame people who gave God too much or not enough importance? Perhaps we have our own vision of the spiritual and would like to share it? Or perhaps we would like to reason with people using logic and good argument that relies on no assumptions about spirituality? Perhaps as artists we have a philosophy that may be useful to be aware of. I could certainly give a few pointers in how to live life with less money!!!!
I do not propose through this choice of theme that we lecture the public on our enlightened or darkened perception of the world. But I do suggest that we move forward in a focused direction with a reason for exhibiting and with an urgency about what we want to say. How many exhibitions have you seen that lack this ingredient? As the name of our course suggests we are all seeking to become masters. What is that exactly in the context of art? Is this not the perfect moment to demonstrate our level of ability attained.... not because we want to be boastful or egotistical , but because we truly believe we have something important to say to a waiting audience.
I await your response...
Sean O'Dwyer
No Gods No masters (no artists).... by Lisa Marie Johnston
Not considering this as a Ma show statement would be a good start! everything can still be discussed, considered and included if more ideas pop up along the way.This is taking from different views and imputs of the class.
also not everyone (students) that want or should be involved has known or participated in meetings so numbers need to be finalised.. I dont have everyones email involved so cath I just found this email list can you add on and forward thanks.......
'The city is a dynamic system in constant change,in which the built tissue is metabolized in various forms through processes that are the opposite of degradation, maintence, metabolization, transformation, upgrading, improvement, overgrowth and replacement,degraded urban territories allows for flexibility, vacant, accessibility,transformation of an open structure in the city' taken from janez kozeli essay'
Devalued spaces in the city
and also as artist Jay koh has discussed in his work among all of these things there is also the 'construction of self (work) within the construction of city'.
Looking at open space , inbetween space, disused carparks, alleyways, industrial units, shops to let, school(red tape and content to be considered) gallery option? utilizes all aspects of form and medium that is cross disciplinary and suits the large amount of people involved allows a context in which to show larger works as well as writing or participatory/ collaborative practice.
ideas and themes of inbetween, Interim, Terrain, porn ? Titles can consider intellect, sexy/fun or shock value? is a name important/ allow the curator to develope this? , do we co-curate or liase? Do we use/ offer the full amount available or do we use some of money for publicity, acessibility, web, catalogue?It was suggested to me later by artist/curators that the money on offer is very good and we could hold some back for other necessities-mentioned above.
idea of artist/curator crossover might be cheaper and may suit the work as a more organic process than a 2day cutorial. sugestions: curators maybe were already squattin/swatting at ncad, already dublin based , doin phd, using the library etc...
sean-chair, cath/ciara-admin
Colm covering funding research, Tony ? covering sponsorship
Keane and sean -Blog/web work
Lisa-marie/ileen-bit of research
also not everyone (students) that want or should be involved has known or participated in meetings so numbers need to be finalised.. I dont have everyones email involved so cath I just found this email list can you add on and forward thanks.......
'The city is a dynamic system in constant change,in which the built tissue is metabolized in various forms through processes that are the opposite of degradation, maintence, metabolization, transformation, upgrading, improvement, overgrowth and replacement,degraded urban territories allows for flexibility, vacant, accessibility,transformation of an open structure in the city' taken from janez kozeli essay'
Devalued spaces in the city
and also as artist Jay koh has discussed in his work among all of these things there is also the 'construction of self (work) within the construction of city'.
Looking at open space , inbetween space, disused carparks, alleyways, industrial units, shops to let, school(red tape and content to be considered) gallery option? utilizes all aspects of form and medium that is cross disciplinary and suits the large amount of people involved allows a context in which to show larger works as well as writing or participatory/ collaborative practice.
ideas and themes of inbetween, Interim, Terrain, porn ? Titles can consider intellect, sexy/fun or shock value? is a name important/ allow the curator to develope this? , do we co-curate or liase? Do we use/ offer the full amount available or do we use some of money for publicity, acessibility, web, catalogue?It was suggested to me later by artist/curators that the money on offer is very good and we could hold some back for other necessities-mentioned above.
idea of artist/curator crossover might be cheaper and may suit the work as a more organic process than a 2day cutorial. sugestions: curators maybe were already squattin/swatting at ncad, already dublin based , doin phd, using the library etc...
sean-chair, cath/ciara-admin
Colm covering funding research, Tony ? covering sponsorship
Keane and sean -Blog/web work
Lisa-marie/ileen-bit of research
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