Thursday 10 July 2008
Wednesday 9 July 2008
A paste of time
The first print designed for My First Billboard went up today, in driving rain no less. Hopefully it will still be up there tomorrow morning but if this hellish weather has washed it away never fear we shall proceed!
There's some images of the print below (as well as a digital version earlier in this blog). Its comprised of digitally manipulated and layered elements from Topolino comics, Italy's Mickey Mouse. I have to say i think the name Topolino is infinitely better. The images themselves hopefully maintain enough of the familiar to be read whilst alluding to something else. They begin to spit forward absurd and impossible architecture, strange cloud formations and slabs of intersecting colour. As with many of the current print series I'm working on they look at the idea of asking viewers to consider how they look at and read images and how this is then skewed and altered when what we may normally focus on is removed or obstructed:
Print two has also been printed and i may try and get it up on the board tomorrow before a three or four day hiatus. Here's a sneaky peek at it. As always, pictures will be posted once completed:
I have also been posting about this on a couple of other places, my myspace blog and the forum on gigposter.com particularly and there have been some interesting responses. Here's a few comments from the gigposters forum that seemed particularly relevant or struck a cord with me somehow:
matthewthirteen: That is the most punk concept I've ever seen. Reclaiming public space legally.
Phoondaddy: B-DROID said he was going to tag your billboard this week. LOAD THE MUSKETS!!!!!!!
Both of these seemed to carry some resonance because of the idea of this being a project about display and how we use public space for art.
It does frequently feel that there is little way to publicly show work in this country that doesn't involve either large grants or breaking the law. Chelsea itself has just had its parade ground refurbished in order to house large scale commissions. This is obviously an interesting and exciting idea, depending on what they commission, but how and where do we show on a more grassroots level? I suppose i feel that the billboard offers me this opportunity for a few weeks and allows others to both see and comment on what i am doing. I also like this idea of the project being a 'punk concept'. As a man with a love of punk and its ethos for many years (i even played in a punk band or sorts called, rather sadly, Orifis. Oh dear...) the idea that the billboard somehow reflects this DIY way of operating (both in terms of the board itself as an alternative space, a small jeering alternative to Tate as one person suggested, and in terms of the way the work is cheaply printed, is disposable, temporary, a giant zine revealed page by page), really appeals. The second comment quoted is also interesting. No not the muskets part, though i do like a musket, more the concept of how this board will interact with or be interacted with by the public itself. I am not asking for it to be tagged etc, I'm merely musing over what could happen is all...
A question was also asked about quantifying what exactly would happen in terms of the pasting over of images. Heres the succinct response that i think worked well:
In terms of pasting over stuff, I will put up a giant print of mine on most days over the next couple of weeks so the one before gets pasted over, and then the next one etc. On the 22nd/23rd it will be a noticeboard for all so i will cram up loads of prints salon style. If i have a huge amount i will do a couple of days. I want people to advertise selling their couches through to some empty rants etc. Like a cross between speakers corner and the free classified ads...
I'm rather pleased with that last line so on that note i will call it a day.
There's some images of the print below (as well as a digital version earlier in this blog). Its comprised of digitally manipulated and layered elements from Topolino comics, Italy's Mickey Mouse. I have to say i think the name Topolino is infinitely better. The images themselves hopefully maintain enough of the familiar to be read whilst alluding to something else. They begin to spit forward absurd and impossible architecture, strange cloud formations and slabs of intersecting colour. As with many of the current print series I'm working on they look at the idea of asking viewers to consider how they look at and read images and how this is then skewed and altered when what we may normally focus on is removed or obstructed:
Print two has also been printed and i may try and get it up on the board tomorrow before a three or four day hiatus. Here's a sneaky peek at it. As always, pictures will be posted once completed:
I have also been posting about this on a couple of other places, my myspace blog and the forum on gigposter.com particularly and there have been some interesting responses. Here's a few comments from the gigposters forum that seemed particularly relevant or struck a cord with me somehow:
matthewthirteen: That is the most punk concept I've ever seen. Reclaiming public space legally.
Phoondaddy: B-DROID said he was going to tag your billboard this week. LOAD THE MUSKETS!!!!!!!
Both of these seemed to carry some resonance because of the idea of this being a project about display and how we use public space for art.
It does frequently feel that there is little way to publicly show work in this country that doesn't involve either large grants or breaking the law. Chelsea itself has just had its parade ground refurbished in order to house large scale commissions. This is obviously an interesting and exciting idea, depending on what they commission, but how and where do we show on a more grassroots level? I suppose i feel that the billboard offers me this opportunity for a few weeks and allows others to both see and comment on what i am doing. I also like this idea of the project being a 'punk concept'. As a man with a love of punk and its ethos for many years (i even played in a punk band or sorts called, rather sadly, Orifis. Oh dear...) the idea that the billboard somehow reflects this DIY way of operating (both in terms of the board itself as an alternative space, a small jeering alternative to Tate as one person suggested, and in terms of the way the work is cheaply printed, is disposable, temporary, a giant zine revealed page by page), really appeals. The second comment quoted is also interesting. No not the muskets part, though i do like a musket, more the concept of how this board will interact with or be interacted with by the public itself. I am not asking for it to be tagged etc, I'm merely musing over what could happen is all...
A question was also asked about quantifying what exactly would happen in terms of the pasting over of images. Heres the succinct response that i think worked well:
In terms of pasting over stuff, I will put up a giant print of mine on most days over the next couple of weeks so the one before gets pasted over, and then the next one etc. On the 22nd/23rd it will be a noticeboard for all so i will cram up loads of prints salon style. If i have a huge amount i will do a couple of days. I want people to advertise selling their couches through to some empty rants etc. Like a cross between speakers corner and the free classified ads...
I'm rather pleased with that last line so on that note i will call it a day.
As She Lives and Breathes...
Here she is in all her majesty, My First Billboard:
tomorrow will see the first day of pasting so posts will appear as and when new wprk goes up. Here's some info/a call for submission that is out floating in the ether for all who are interested:
My First Billboard
Chelsea College of Art & Design
Atterbury Street
London, SW1
My First Billboard is an alternative exhibition space of sorts devised, constructed and run by the artist Luke Drozd. Situated in the courtyard of Chelsea College of Art and Design, London, My First Billboard sits opposite Tate Britain wooing the public with its visual delights...
The premise is simple; over the rest of July into August a series of works will be pasted onto the board, with the previous content being destroyed, covered, deleted by the new fresh work that resides in its place. This may be anything: pointless posters, empty rhetoric, heartfelt wishes…we shall see. Progress of the board can be followed at:
www.myfirstbillboard.blogspot.com
Call for submissions
For one day only My First Billboard will become a community noticeboard /free advertising space for all. This will take place on 23rd July 2008. All you need to do to take advantage of this opportunity is send in your advert, message, notice, whatever you wish to display and it will duly be pasted onto the board. Work can be any size or scale, colour or black and white, so long as it can be pasted up.
All work MUST be received by 22nd July 2008 in order to guarantee a place on the board.
The address for delivery is:
My First Billboard
C/o Babak Ghazi
Chelsea College of Art & Design
16 John Islip Street,
London
SW1P 4JU
For more info please contact lukedrozd@hotmail.com
tomorrow will see the first day of pasting so posts will appear as and when new wprk goes up. Here's some info/a call for submission that is out floating in the ether for all who are interested:
My First Billboard
Chelsea College of Art & Design
Atterbury Street
London, SW1
My First Billboard is an alternative exhibition space of sorts devised, constructed and run by the artist Luke Drozd. Situated in the courtyard of Chelsea College of Art and Design, London, My First Billboard sits opposite Tate Britain wooing the public with its visual delights...
The premise is simple; over the rest of July into August a series of works will be pasted onto the board, with the previous content being destroyed, covered, deleted by the new fresh work that resides in its place. This may be anything: pointless posters, empty rhetoric, heartfelt wishes…we shall see. Progress of the board can be followed at:
www.myfirstbillboard.blogspot.com
Call for submissions
For one day only My First Billboard will become a community noticeboard /free advertising space for all. This will take place on 23rd July 2008. All you need to do to take advantage of this opportunity is send in your advert, message, notice, whatever you wish to display and it will duly be pasted onto the board. Work can be any size or scale, colour or black and white, so long as it can be pasted up.
All work MUST be received by 22nd July 2008 in order to guarantee a place on the board.
The address for delivery is:
My First Billboard
C/o Babak Ghazi
Chelsea College of Art & Design
16 John Islip Street,
London
SW1P 4JU
For more info please contact lukedrozd@hotmail.com
Tuesday 8 July 2008
Construction cont...
Yesterday heady things were afoot in the world of My First Billboard. After a longer period than expected (and in some pretty miserable weather)we now had a secure and rather beautiful frame in place. Take a look for yourself:
And on to today. With the weather (mostly) on our side the main board itself was ready to attach to its moorings. A huge thanks to John for helping out on this whole project by the way...
And on to today. With the weather (mostly) on our side the main board itself was ready to attach to its moorings. A huge thanks to John for helping out on this whole project by the way...
Sunday 6 July 2008
Delays and print no.1
Right here's a quick progress update. Due to unforeseen circumstances and the board simply taking longer than was expected to make (within health and safety guidelines particularly) the billboard is not yet up. It SHOULD however be up by this Wednesday 9th July. Installation in situ begins tomorrow and the first print is printed (a digital image of which can be seen below). Will post images of installation as it happens...
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