Exhibition
Landscape of Meaning Exhibition
This collaborative exhibition explored the idea of homeland and explored a range of individual responses to this concept, including many themes from family to identity etc. With this, we acknowledge how ‘home’ means something different to each individual which is why we collaboratively embraced these concerns, interpretations and connections in relation to place, people and landscape.
In advancement of this, there were also alternate themes of familiarity and dislocation, safety and security converge to create new realisations, reflecting on these landscapes of meaning. The work that was represented in this exhibition showcased the group’s varied reflection on what creates these connections and attempted to answer the following question, ‘where is home?’.
Personal Artist Statement
Initially in response to the theme, Homeland, I wanted to document the beauty of the landscapes around me to show appreciation for my homeland. However, when delving deeper into my critical thinking, I understood that my process was more seeking the feeling of home, for example the feeling you get when with a loved-one.
When taking these images, I sought a shot that had the feeling of contentment, I found these images reflected my childhood. I closely link the feeling of home to my youth as your childhood home is a place to feel safe and at your happiest. Expanding on this, I took all these images in Huddersfield, as this is where I now feel at ‘home’.
Installation of Work
Preliminary to the installation of the work, as a collective we decided to present our prints on mount-boards, using thick card and other stocks in order to do this. This was decided in order to allow easier installation as it allowed the prints to be straighter and thicker. Furthermore, with the addition of mount-boards this allowed us to create a professional aesthetic to the prints and allowed them to stand out from the wall. Due to cost-effective methods being used, the prints were attached to the mount boards using double-sided sticky tape, which should have been reconsidered as some sections of the print came away from the mount-board.
Retrospective to mounting the prints, three techniques were used for installation, first being common strips, mostly on the large-format prints, to avoid damaging the walls. Secondly using blue-tack, which was sufficient for the three days the exhibition was erected, however, would not be appropriate for a long-term exhibition. The third was using string tied to the ceilings, and pegs to hang up the fabric prints, creating a washing-line aesthetic.
My Role in the Exhibition
The roles that I was appointed were Catalogue Design, Fundraising and Public relations:
Catalogue Design
Worked alongside Abigail
Work mostly on the front and back of the catalogue, made the design and assisted on the design of the main body of the catalogue.
Sent the catalogues to ‘We Love Print’ to get them printed and delivered on time.
With this we also had to collect and organise everyones artist statements and design them into the catalogue.
Fundraising
Helped fundraise, to support and create our exhibition and space.
We held a public cake sale in order to raise funds.
With this role I also helped create and control the budget and money.
Public Relations
Messaged local businesses asking for sponsorship or if they could advertise our exhibition. We gained sponsorship from a local club in return for including the logo on our catalogue.
Further roles I supported in due to absences or collaboration:
Social Media
Set up our social media, Instagram account and an email to go alongside this.
Followed people on our Instagram account as a collective to help promote the exhibition.
When the marketing team were unavailable I also maintained the Instagram account, posting stories etc.
Promotion
Printed posters and displayed them around our university campus.
Distributed posters created by the marketing team.
Shared Instagram posts and stories advertising the exhibition.
Curation
Collaboratively sequenced work.
We also installed the ‘washing line’ together deciding where it would look best.
We also frequently visited out exhibition space deciding and planning where the pictures would be hung.