Artist Research

In his article Illuminations Brian Dillon talks about Roland Barthe’s flawed observational skills for not noticing ‘a gold chain’ which was a pearl necklace. Barthes was known for reading between the lines, semiotics is important because we attach meaning to certain image paradigms. Barthes perhaps looked so far beyond the image into its meaning that he missed what might have to others only observing the image on face value. Those observations were made by James Elkins in What Photography Is which I hope was presented in a more aesthetically pleasing format than his website, just saying.

Vincent Callebaut - The Lilypad

EDDITT tower by  T.R. Hamzah and Yeang

I believe both Dillon and Elkins were making the point that attention to detail is important. Vincent Callebaut’s designs can not be faulted for attention to detail, yes I know, weak link. Designs like the Lilypad from 2008 display ambition and forethought for the wellbeing of the planet. Callebaut is hardly the only architect working towards a more ecologically sustainable future as Dillon probably knows since The Guardian’s article Green architecture: 12 designs of the future featured EDITT tower by T.R. Hamzah and Yeang. I was looking at architects like Vincent Callebaut as research for my dissertation with reference to the future as the subject was time travel during which I looked back through all of my issues of New Scientist magazine. It’s hard to find art in relation to such an intangible subject as time itself which is the task of Natalie Nicklin. Her work combines bold shapes and colours, photography and vector images.

Natalie Nicklin (this image was in New Scientist magazine)

Tessar Lo

New scientist was also useful for finding Tessar Lo whose work deals with themes of nature and has a very oriental feel to it. Themed similarly to the work of Sung Dynasty painters Chao Ch’ang and Chao Pochu Tessar Lo’s work has themes of the power of nature and mythical creatures. Guy McKinley’s work is much more modern in it’s style but with the same attention to detail. Manga is an easy inspiration to talk about considering the drawing style and the colouring. Sat One uses similar bright colours and compositions as complex. The inspiration for Sat One is more obviously abstract forms in graffiti art and still nature as well though often clashing with technology which can also be said for Xenz but with more focus on nature and often a much loser feel. Duncan Jago’s work is often detached from any definite form, more abstract design than drawing but always brightly coloured.

Guy McKinley

Sat One

Xenz

Duncan Jago