Material culture discussion paper: http://artworkprocess.com/JC/journal/Material%20Culture%20Discussion%20paper_July%202015%20update.pdf
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| Final artwork with all pieces together |
Final thoughts
The "material culture discussion paper" asked use to consider: Objects as a record of a point of time, What our approach to the project is and to consider some contemporary issues.Consider what is of interest to you or is important to you; Think about how the work relates to you, here, now.Reflect on what you have discovered in your research and distil your thoughts into the making and completion of a single object or series of works in the form of a small object or jewellery;
Objects are a record of a point in time. They reflect our beliefs, rituals and traditions. The intention was to create an object that is a statement about my identity, focusing on my beliefs, rituals and traditions as a pentecostal christian with strong ties to my British heritage.
Context : Sense of identity
This artwork is a statement and critique of identity. Identity is formed within a complex matix of many variables that include gender, sexuality, ethnicity, class, religion, community and nation.
I identify with heteronormativity, masculinity, caucasian ethnicity of british heritage, and as middle class surburban, but these are shadowed by my identification as part of the christian community.
As a statement of cultural identity this art object does not speak much about "australian suburban beach culture" that surrounds the kingscliff and tweedcoast/goldcoast area. This artwork is intended as a reflection of the displacement and sense of disorientation in the contemporary world felt by many christians and a personal expression of those beliefs. We live in an age of independence , an age where “meaning and truth is created”1 by the individual , morality is relative , perversions celebrated and personal choice rules . We live in an age where Religion is seen an oppressive bureaucracy and No religion has the right to pronounce itself right or true. Religion is broadly seen today to be a cause of intolerance and war , faith-based political fanatiscism , backward-thinking attitudes to women or sexuality and having moral contradiction to the ways people want to live their lives.
Personal identity through a sense of cultural displacement and personal christian beliefs and has been explored through the creation a sculptural art object that uses the form of a sword.
A sword is not a passive object, its an object of action. And it is this manifestation of action as opposed to pacivity that coveys the applications of the beliefs that are imbued in the form. The use of the two handed sword form is to reflect my connection with my european heritage. The nature of two-hander swords is that they are designed for offence and defense, with a double edged blade, and were used up until the age of enlightnment, which coincides with societal shifts towards christian beliefs. The significance of a double edged blade is that it potentially cuts the wielder, thus making reference to the self reflectivity of beliefs.
As the physical manifestation of my christian belief system in each portion of the blade conceptually embues the physicality of the part with a spiritual application.
Research the work of contemporary artists in this field;
For this project research into artists that explore transendentalism, such as Bill Viola, Alex Grey and Mark Rothko were the main forcus (see JC entry week 6 ). And brisbane artist Doug Kwok.
Consider the significance of your material choices;
The use of brass in this project was to make reference to gold(through coloration) that was often used in christian religious relics. To support the concept of disconnection and disorientation with contemporary society I chose to use a sulphur patina technique to "age" the brass, giving a dull, mottled and worn appearance. But to show that the connection with the holy spirit is still relevant today, I chose to leave the cross guard ( which is made from aluminium ) clean and sharp.
Consider the significance of your chosen imagery;
Handle
Purpose:The physical connection between the wielder and the sword.FORM: handle in 3 segments with a wooden core
Materials: Brass and timber core
The use of figurative imagery illustrates the real world application of beliefs, following the christian saying of "faith(beliefs) without actions are dead":
scriptural relevance:
James 2:14-17(NIV) “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
IMAGERY : Child holding baloon - Maintaining a view that of a child of infinite joy, contentment, thankfullness, imagination, innocence and optomism
scriptural relevance:
Luke 18:17 (ESV)
17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
IMAGERY : Old man - Carrying your own burdens and the burdens of those in need.
scriptural relevance:
Galatians 6:2(GNT)
2 Help carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will obey[a] the law of Christ.
IMAGERY : Artist - Use your giftings, whether is arts, music, science, cooking, cleaning. In my case its arts. And to not let them go to waste.
scriptural relevance:
1 Peter 4:10New International Version (NIV)
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
IMAGERY : Couple - Honor and love your wife as christ loved the church
scriptural relevance:
Mark 10:8(NIV)\
and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Ephesians 5:22-33(NIV)
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[b] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
IMAGERY : Adult and child - Fatherhood, guidance and mentorship
scriptural relevance:
Proverbs 22:6New International Version (NIV)
6 Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
scriptural relevance:
Matthew 25:35-40 (NIV) “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Pommel
Purpose of the pommel is to act as a counter balance for the sword,FORM: Clock work winder
Materials: Brass
The symbolism of the winder is to represent my ecclesiastical beliefs and beliefs in how the universe is formed and functions. The ecclesiastical beliefs are that there is a time for everything, including your own birth and death, prosperity and hardship. You never know how long you have and that there is a god made plan. And furthered by my beliefs in the complexity and functionality of physical reality, that it was created and watched over and that all things have a beginning and an end. Including time itself, which is relative (perceived differently by all 2 peter 3:8 (NIV) 'one day is like a thousand years'... to god) and in the concept of Time's Arrow.
Cross guard
Purpose : Protecting the wielderFORM : wings
Materials: Aluminium, brass
The symbolism of the wings is a common image for the holy spirit, meaning that the protection for the wielder is the holy spirit. Connection with the holy spirit is a defining characteristic of pentecostal christians, which occurs after salvation, anointing them for special christian service and spiritual warfare (struggles against spiritual enemies).
Blade
Purpose: The cutting part of the weapon, to wound or strike down an opponent,FORM: paper blade
Materials: paper , threaded steel rod
The blade itself will be constructed from key scriptures (King James Bible, 1952) which form the foundation of my beliefs. The paper blade aludes to the spiritual and non-literal purpose of the sword. It is real, tangible, and powerful weapon that is to be used in spiritual battles. The scriptures used in this artwork are key scriptures relating to the concepts covered in image selection, the cross guard and pommel. These are:
Ephesians 6, Colossians 3, Peter 3,1 corithians 10, Hebrews 11 (faith), Romans 14 (some people eat what others cant), Titus (leasdership), 1 timothy 4, Proverbs 1 (wisdom), John 1 17 (moses and jesus) Romans 3 23 (salvation) Ecclesiastes (seasons)
Base
Purpose: The pulpit is traditionally where beliefs are preached to others.
Form: Pulpit base
Materials:Timber
The use of the pulpit base is to support the concept of the "purpose" of the sword. In that its a transentental object designed for sharing and expression of beliefs and christian faith.
Display
This artwork is being displayed free standing with the sword vertically attached to the base of a pulpit. The sword tip pointing towards the ground to alude to the purpose of the blade being used in "worldy" spiritual battles.
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