THE BODY of WORK (BoW): your major HSC art projectSophie Adams, Tied up in the past: navigating ancestral knots, ArtExpress 2012, Collection of Works.

Artist’s statementMy artwork explores my feelings about my Czech heritage and how people gain identity through their heritage. In carving my wooden puppet I was literally shaping its identity, but it also became a visual metaphor of cultural memories that pass through time and influence who we are. The costuming of the puppetin pyjamas, embossed with the iconic Czech vernacular, visually represents the retrieval process by which folklore can be handed down. The letters and wood shavings in the small 'identity’ boxes record the complexity and perseverance inherent in the crafting process.Influencing artists: Julie Barratt, Chris Sickels

The BoS has outlined 12 Expressive Forms that you can work in. These are:

Drawing: A work or series of works with a focus on drawing.Painting: A work or series of works with a focus on painting.Sculpture: An individual work or series of works with a focus on sculpture.Collection of Works: various Expressive Forms used in the one work.Documented Forms : A work or series of works documenting time-based events,performances and site-specific installations. (Often these artworks are ephemeral, i.e. they are impermanent.)Photomedia : A work or series of works in black and white or colour using wet (darkroom) or digital practices.Printmaking : (A work or series of works with a focus on printmaking.) Textiles/Fibres :A work or series of works with a focus on textiles and fibre.Graphic Design :A work or series of works with a focus on graphic design.Time based Forms :A work or series of works with a focus on time-based forms. Includes film, video, digital animation and interactives.Ceramics :An individual work or series of works with a focus on ceramics.Object design :A work or series of works with a focus on 3D object design. This includes wearables, jewellery, architectural design and product design.

We need to keep it very simple here at TAFE. You don’t have much time. You need to work

in the expressive form you feel most confident with. Apart from these first few

weeks, this is not really the time to experiment with a new medium. It’s the time

to focus on the task and do it as well as you can.(If everything is new to you, then you have to go with something! That’s ok. )

This doesn’t mean you don’t experiment during the process. It means, if you’ve got some experience painting, don’t make the

Body of Work all about sculpture. The thing we focus on is aiming for the best possible

mark in your HSC. This can be done even with basic resources and materials. Your time

and effort will make the difference.

Eva Nolan, Muse, Drawing, ArtExpress 2012. Influencing artists: Del Kathryn Barton, Salvador Dali, Courtney Brims, Shaun Tan

How on earth do I decide what my BoW will be about ???

Ideally, find a topic that MEANS something to you; something you care about, no matter how simple or humble that may be. Art tends to work better that way. It does not need to be anything trendy or fashionable (in fact, it will probably end up more interesting if it’s not.) It’s important that the project is an authentic expression, rather than something clever.

Lisa Koesterke, Postcards from Wit’s End, Collection of Works, ArtExpress 2012

Artist’s statement…I explored the emotions, thoughts and memories and the little, personal, significant moments that had shaped my experience of my last year of school. Please read my story, in sequence, from the top left.

Influencing artists: Shaun Tan, Ghostpatrol

Subjective frame:What kind of person am I?Do I want to explore my relationships with friends or family?What do I like?(Do I even know what I like? Confusion is a good theme!!)Painful / difficult/important/joyful things I might want to express? Things that frighten or trouble me?What is my life about?What would I LIKE my life to be about?Can I imagine myself as someone else, somewhere else?Memories of the past?

The frames can help you to come up with a theme to work with. Ask yourself these questions, they may Inspire you…

Jody Koay, My space, Collection of works, ArtExpress 2012 (photography, and charcoal drawings.)

“… they derive from my father’s workshop – his sanctuary, a physical space simultaneously representing the struggles and the rewards of everyday routine….I chose charcoal to capture the essence of the workshop and its atmosphere, as it holds a soft, dusty feel and has been used by man since the beginning of time”.

Structural frame:Am I interested in the formal qualities of images – that is, design, colours, shapes, composition, mark making?

Am I interested in symbols; use of text and language; getting a message across?

Do I want to explore a certain movement within art that I like; or do I want to work with a certain style of representation? (e.g.abstract; realistic; stylised.)

Caitlin Mathie, Multiple Paths, Drawing, ArtExpress 2012

Influencing artists: Georges Seurat,Rowena Dring.

Postmodern:Are there power structures I’d like to question? (Such as TAFE; family;

government; religious; gender inequality ; political structures; ecological concerns.)

Are there stories we are told that I’d like to upturn or challenge ? (for

instance, ‘study hard and get a good job’.)

Postmodernism states that there is no single truth…there are different truths for different people; different meanings.

Andrea Williamson, LeavingCampsite and country, Textiles & fibre, ArtExpress 2012.

Influencing artists: Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Rosalie Gascoigne, Fiona Foley, Narelle Jubelin, Anselm Kiefer, Sue Ford, Russell Drysdale

Cultural:Do I want to work with things I believe in? (Religion; personal beliefs, family values);

Issues of Nationality? (racism; asylum issues; refugees.)

Current events that are significant to me? (War; environment issues; drug culture;

crime; community issues; )

Technologies?

History?

Madison Mitchell, Intertwined,Detail from Collection of Works,ArtExpress 2012

Influencing artists: Aya Nakahara, Chiharu Shiota, Del Kathryn Barton, Takashi Murakami, Utagawa Hiroshige

If you have zero drawing / painting skills, consider doing something that which might include some printmaking (interesting prints can be produced relatively easily) some photography, or an assemblage of found objects or recycled materials.

Collage, which we will look at in the next couple of weeks, can also be a useful artmakingtechnique which does not call for advanced drawing or painting skills.

These things require just as much thought and effort to create something interesting, but do not depend so much upon excellent drawing or painting skills.

Also, don't freak out at the standard of these ArtExpress works. They are the best in the State!!

The Board of Studies marks the Body of Work on two values:

Conceptual strength and meaning & Technical Resolution

How can I get good marks in my Body of Work?

Start thinking about ideas for the project NOW. The longer you put it off, the more difficult it is. The more time and thought you put into it, the better it will be. You only have about 40 more classes here at TAFE to work on your project.

Conceptual strength and meaning: This relates to what the ideas are behind the work.These ideas develop as you go along. What you start with may be just ordinary, but as you work on it, the ideas get stronger and the work starts to come together.

Technical Resolution: The work must do more than MEAN something. The meaning can be really strong but the work still looks lame, because of the way it is composed or put together. I can help you with this, so I will make suggestions as you go along.

Note: you are legally required to do your work on your project here at TAFE, not at home. I have to sign a document confirming it is all your own work (as do you) and has been under my supervision. I cannot do that if you do the work at home, where you could be getting assistance from someone. This is a Board of Studies Regulation.

Materials

If you’re interested at all in recycled or random materials for your BoW, please seriously consider a trip to Reverse Garbage, Australia’s biggest re-use recycling place.

The Addison Road Community Centre in Marrickville.8/142 Addison RoadMarrickville NSW 2204We are open 7 days a week9am to 5pm – Monday to Saturday10am to 4pm – SundaysClosed public holidays

The place is amazing and has all sorts of industrial off-cuts and cheap stuff, generally newfor crazy zero prices.

• ARTISTS STATEMENTS – WHAT ARE THEY ABOUT?

Links to ArtExpress images and info:

Art Gallery of New South Wales: http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/insideartexpress/2012/

Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre: http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Arts_Entertainment/Hazelhurst/Exhibitions/ARTEXPRESS