By George, we did it! – YEAR 2| RAYVENN SHALEIGHA D'CLARK| THEORETICAL

5th Nov Crits

Morning

Forming a meeting alongside a number of other groups to not only assess the viability of the groups, but to discuss and assess the ideas that unit other groups. Not only can this lead to further changes in groups (esp. for those not in a group yet), but also allows the members of single groups to firm up their ideas and truly become united in their theme.

Our group (Political Aesthetics) are solidly based around common ideas related to the political commentary behind art (in our own cases in hugely varying degrees) as well as the idea of beautiful art (‘don’t we all want to look at beautiful things?’) as we navigate very diverse practises.
Our presentation (10 mins) began with a funny (5 min) video which recanted the ‘History of John Baldessari’, before we launched into the political intentions that unite the group , with specific references to each other individual practises (HeeChong ‘What is Art’ and ‘How can art Categorisation be Measured?’; Rachel ‘The Politics of the Everyday’; Marnia ‘The Politics of Painting’; Gaia ‘The Politics of Aesthetics’ and myself ‘The Politics of Photography and Portraiture’)
Each member then explained their relationship to the aesthetics of Baldessari, each with out own quote (from a text of our choice) that fits out individual practise and to end we had a small discussion about our (possible) Final Exhibition Outcome

Overall I feel that this task was very useful for our group. For the first time I really feel that there is a unity within our work, as well as a group, as Baldessari has linked our varied practise through a common interest and artist.

I go back and forth between wanting to be abundantly simple and maddeningly complex

Afternoon

The afternoon meeting then brought a more one to one meeting as we discuss our individual practises with Lucy Gunning as well as what unites us as a group.

She was very impresses with our Final Exhibition Idea – which can be seen as a comment on Reproduction (relating to Walter Benjamin’s arguments), as well as capitalism and the strangeness of Art memorabilia.

As we now have a new group member; Frank (who really emphasises the Gallery Shop aesthetic in the meeting) we are much more united (theoretically) in the intentions of the layout of the Final Exhibition

Next Thurs Gallery Visits

As a group (split in half from the morning meeting) we will spend a day visiting Galleries in order to further inform our practise.

It will go as follows: