So today(although today is now yesterday technically)'s visiting artist was Chris Miles. I will be absolutely honest, when I saw Chris' work on the list of tutors, it was probably the work I was least excited about. This is mostly because I almost live in this bubble where I love work that produces a narrative for me and from the photos I just wasn't picking that up from his work.
Which is why it is so ironic that his lecture was actually the most inspiring so far.
I now want to make weird industrial detritus balls with eerie children and crazed animals hanging off them at jaunty angles.
SO, lets get down to the nitty gritty here. Chris' work is not my usual cup of tea. I usually like work that has the promise or implication of a narrative or mythology that is pretty readily accessible or has visual elements which at least give the illusion of this. This body of work however, is far more abstract than I am used to engaging with. I was actually hesitant about posting pictures of his work because, and you need to trust me on this, his pieces look out of this world in person. As "objects." in the traditional sense of the word these works are totally fascinating. They are generally fairly large scale and stand on poles that hold them at a height which is usually around head height. Chris has loosely put the pieces into groups depending on their physical characteristics, and the groups have such wonderful genus names as "Noggins" and "Gnarls."
I do not want to seem like a complete flake again, but Chris is very particular about his working process, and people seeing his works-in-progress, so I really want to respect that and not go into too much technical detail here, however so many elements relate directly to my own work. For example he talked about being happy with simply his hands and a knife... which is pretty much my standard toolbox (ok so maybe include my trusty Tiranti wax modeling tool and maybe a kidney or two, but the sentiment remains...). He also does amazing things involving baby proofing foam (last seen in my Nan's house circa. 2000ce.) and a type of swim float that I now know Americans refer to as a "noodle" apparently. These methods are amazing, but I'm really not sure how much I can say over them.
ANYWAY, I cant finish this blog without mentioning Chris' AWESOME glazes. Some of the colours are simply phenomenal and actually may well provoke me into trying more of it on my won work!
Anyway as those of you who follow the blog will know, I have eeb flighting lack of sleep over the last few days, and tonight is the night I am going to win that battle.... despite it being an automatic failure at 3am...
I feel the need to write more about Chris so there may be more following in a few weeks when I can manage to keep both eyes open simultaneously.... wish I was joking..... totally not.
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