Golden Syrup Headshot test run

I have completed my first attempt at filming syrup being poured over the head and face. I think it was a successful outcome, although I want to re-film it again at a later date, making changes to the pouring technique (this would work better in a constant position as in this video the pour moves around which is distracting). I also want to deal with a few lighting issues (would a white background work better? Is there any way to reduce the glare on the syrup, whilst keeping the lighting bright?). Also I think it could work better with the hair scraped back off the face....lots of things to think about...but for now, I'm pleased with how this is going, and these stills work well too:

'Come Helga, This Is No Place For Us II' Rebecca Warren

(Maureen Paley Gallery, 10th Oct-20th Nov).
    What I find interesting about Rebecca Warrens work is the sheer bulk of material she uses, and the rawness there seems to be in a lot of her sculptures. I love that you can see finger marks in the materials, which create a narrative, and brings to mind images of the artist quite aggressively ripping into it with her whole body.
    The artists presence is very strong in the work- you can tell she has been in direct and close contact with what you are viewing, and in this respect her work reminds me very much of Janine Antoni's.  
    To me it's very sensual, the idea of squashing clay between your fingers is a something that is pleasurable to experience, and something we can all relate to (if not in adult life, then in childhood). Through looking at these gouged forms, it reminds me of what it feels like to experience this, and I think because of the colours as well, it sort of takes me back to childhood slightly.

Martynka Wawrzniak

An artist Andrea recommended to me in the Crit, very much related to what I want to do.
She uses melted chocolate (looks like it's been watered down) and pours it all over the model. The chocolate becomes suffocating, and you can't help but empathize with the girl as she chokes and splutters through the video until she is almost completely submerged. The effect of this video becomes very abject, and it's sort of difficult and unpleasant to watch...I found myself worrying about the model, and sort of gagging when she does.

http://www.martynka.com/chocolate/large2.html

'Candy' Honey scene

In a recent crit of my work, I was told to look at this scene in the Australian film 'Candy'. Thanks to Theo for finding this for me I know it took a while! Watch from 6:20:

Golden syrup Films

So I've taken this further and spent a couple of days filming hands being covered in golden syrup. I wanted to create a very sensual experience for the viewer, and ideally I'd probably see these videos projected in High Definition. I'd like to experiment with the sound the syrup makes as it pours also. I really want to do this on other parts of the body, particularly the head/face. Here are some stills from my films:

Fascination with Viscosity

Recently I have become really interested in using viscous materials in my practice (e.g. fairy liquid, melted sugar, tooth paste, and most recently honey or golden syrup). An online definition I found of viscosity: 'The state of being thick, sticky, and semi-fluid in consistency, due to internal friction.'

I find it so interesting that as humans, we seem to be transfixed by the pour of these sorts of materials. It's like an instinctive behavioral trait we have, to want to watch things spill or pour, and when watching them we often get the feeling that we want to touch them or put them in our mouths. I think it's stemned from infantile desires, when you're a baby and you discover the world through touching things and putting them in your mouth.

The shapes that liquids form when poured are beautiful and organic, and when slowed down, or when a very viscous material such as golden syrup is formed, it's mesmerizing.

Here are some experiments I've done applying syrup to the skin:

   

Emeco and Coca-cola collaboration

A film in which a chair made from recycled coca-cola bottles is frozen in a vast cube of ice

Elena Kalis Photography

A photographer I recently stumbled across, who does a lot of work underwater. The clarity of these pictures is amazing, and I think they are very sensual, in that the image looks like I think it would feel to be the girl underwater....if that makes any sense! The images are dream like, so beautiful and peaceful to observe, it makes me want to be that girl, and experience what she is experiencing. I have recently been doing a lot of film and photography work, and this photographer has really inspired my choice of lighting and subject.

Pipilotti Rist

I recently visited the Pipilotti Rist exhibition at the Hayward Gallery which I found to be a refreshing experience. Unlike many exhibitions which I find to be hard work in a way (often involving a lot of reading about the work, trying to work out what is going on, etc), this was just such a relaxing experience. Videos are projected onto floating bits of fabric, creating a dreamlike effect, and the viewer is invited to lie back on bean bags. I think these films really encourage some sort of infantile desire within the viewer, they are the sort of videos that you want to watch, and its a pleasant experience to be surrounded by them. I also like her projections into objects like shells, which you have to peer in to view.  

Gunnar Aagaard Anderson

Lynda Benglis

Sonja Alhauser

Schokoladenbad, 2004

A performance piece in which the artist bathed in a tub of whole milk chocolate. Playing with the idea of attraction and repulsion, as on the one hand the viewer in enticed by the chocolate, and at the same time the smell is overwhelming and sickly, the sight of it can be seen as similar to sewage, and the fact that a human body has been in contact with it provokes feelings of abject. 

Janine Antoni

Bompas and Parr

This jelly duo are amazing. I love the way they have taken the standard, old-fashioned jelly, and re-vamped it with incredible flavours and colours. They even make glow in the dark jellys- amazing.

Their work is just a visual delight, and their playfullness is a huge influence on my work.  

Tania Kovats

Juxtaposition of natural and man-made objects. Nature 'breaking out' of a rigid, sterile form, such as a plinth.

Kate MccGwire

Holton and Rower

This video is amazing- simplest idea, and yet so effective.

Caves/Visual illusion

I've been to lots of caves before, but what was really interesting about these ones (in Spain) was that in the heart of the cave, deep underground, there was a lake which was so still that it perfectly mirrored the cave above it, creating the illusion that in front of you was a treacherous drop. In fact it was just a shallow lake, but it was so eerie, and I think this idea of visual illusion could really be played with. It reminded me of Richard Wilson work with oil. 

20:50, Richard Wilson

Saatchi gallery.This Oil is amazing- interesting for creating visual illusions.

 

BEAR HEADS EXHIBITION

Food Dye

Experimenting with food dye- Could perhaps make it interactive? Pipettes? Amazing visual effect.