Reflections on this first semester

I have started to settle into a new routine of University study, assisted by the good practical tuition from my various tutors. The transition from 30 years working in industry into an academic environment have been smooth and easier than I had first anticipated.

Already, I feel my attitudes towards Contemporary Art in general, have changed significantly from my appreciation of it before starting this degree. I am able to more fluidly recognise the subtleties of contemporary art pieces, through my new & ongoing development of understanding semiotics, which, together with the assisted introduction to experimental drawing and exposure to artistic vocabulary such as simulacra and liminality; I can now begin to deconstruct various selected art pieces, to at least a rudimentary level of understanding, to equip me to provide a commentary of my basic interpretation.

My personal skills as a potential future artist are also beginning to form a foothold, (if not a foundation), through a more concentrated application of freeform drawing & painting. I have found the experimental drawing studies of particular benefit as these sessions not only exercise, but also stretch my draughtsmanship. The introduction to, and use of Adobe CS6 Indesign, Illustrator & Photoshop have also been essential and the tuition supported by the University’s access to Linda.com has proved very benificial.

My theoretical research has been following a path deeper into cultural philosophy than preconceived before attending the course, this area is of particular interest and stimulus to me too. I am learning to make contextual links to current and 19th / 20th century art in a more robust way. The exploration of representation by study of Immanuel Kant, Hegel and Bergson, together with research of Saussure & Pierce (for semiology / semiotics) and various other more recent philosophers has been very engaging.

Objectives for 2nd Semester.
I want to stretch my practical capabilities further by the use of alternative mediums and material, such as block print and clay, that are currently unfamiliar to me. I want to continue to immerse myself into more structured research of the links between contemporary culture, critical thinking and creative art;

My strategy will be to maintain and keep an open mind, but in particular for this next semester, I need to “play” more, engage with chance, and take more risks on my work, aimed at reducing my inhibiting adult schema barriers of expression and self-consciousness.


Reference Books read and used during this semester;
Ways of Seeing; by John Berger, Published 1972, by Penguin Books.*
Mithologies, by Roland Barthes, Published 1972, Rev. 2009, by Random House Group.*
Visible Signs, (An Introduction to Semiotics), by David Crow, Published 2003, by AVA Books.%
The Drawing Book, (A survey of the primary means of expression), By by Charles Darwent, Kate MacFarlane, Katharine Stout and Tania Kovats, Published 2007, by Black Dog Publishing.%
Spatialities the Geographies of Art and Architecture, by Judith Rugg, 2012 (Liminal Spaces), published by Intellect.%
Illustration, a Theoretical & Contextual Perspective, by Alan Male 2007, AVA Publishing*
100 Artists’ Manefestos, From the Futurists to the Stuckists, Selected by Alex Danchev, 2011, Penguin Classics*
Introducing Kant, a Graphic Guide, by Christopher Kul-Want & Andrej Klimowski 1996, Icon Books, London.*