This blog details my preparation notes for Tutorial #3. It summarises my study plan and progress so far for this term (Y1 Summer term 2024).

STUDY PLAN

I refer to my Study Statement to review what I had planned for this term to see if the plan is still relevant. The orange highlights show the items I had planned for this term and that I am actually working on:

Overall, the topics listed in my Study Statement for this term are still largely relevant. For my making, I have some new creative ideas based on the Chinese Cheongsam as a result of an accidental find…

Finding two of my mother’s Cheongsams (also called Qipao – traditional Chinese dress) in my loft that I thought I had accidentally thrown away 23 years ago has given me new inspiration to make Cheongsam related art. My mother’s Cheongsams are of a modern mid-20th century design and is a ‘hybrid’ design combining the traditional Chinese style with European design of that era (tight fitting/figure hugging design inspired by Dior, Chanel etc.). I find the topic of an iconic Eastern-Western hybrid garment intriguing, exciting and I want to make art about it. It is also helping me to bring together my two development strands (narrative and style) – this convergence within my practice is happening earlier than I expected which may or may not be good. Time will tell..

See below for the new activities added to my Mind Map as a result of this latest discovery:

I added a light-green category to show work that I have started but not working on right now.

I have added the Cheongsam as a new topic for academic research and resources from the UAL libraries have been very useful:

I have added my mother’s dresses that I found in the loft as part of my family history research:

I also added Cheongsam to my list of making projects for this term. The plan is to make a series of wearable paintings:

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PROGRESS (MAKING)

The progress of making during this term since discovering my mother’s Cheongsams are listed below:

– The first Cheongsam wearable painting was completed and documented in these two blogs:

MA Y1 U2: Cheongsam Series #3 – wearable painting

MA Y1 U2: Cheongsam Series #4 – Appropriation. Appropriation.

– I am working on the next Cheongsam painting, here is a digital sketch showing the idea so far:

MA Y1 U2: Cheongsam Series #5 – She’s a banana! – Part A

– The blogs below show some earlier work that were carried out prior to the above paintings during the ‘thinking’ time that led to the idea of making a Cheongsam wearable painting:

MA Y1 U2: Cheongsam Series #2 – study drawing

MA Y1 U2: Cheongsam Series #1 – oil and cold wax abstract

Finally, below is a blog detailing my reflections after the MA Interim Show and my struggle in trying to pin down the elusive third space…

MA Y1 U2: The elusive Third Space – Reflections from MA interim show and feedback

PROGRESS (RESEARCH PAPER)

I am close to finalising the title question. Details to be supplied separately to this blog.

TIME PLANNING FOR THIS TERM

I aim to split my time 50/50 between making and the research paper.

NOTES FROM TUTUORIAL #3

Date: 10th May 2024

Tutor: Jonathan Kearney

Notes: All the topics listed were discussed. Key points noted were:

– Out of the two similar titles for the Research paper – either is fine at this stage. Once more work is done then can decide on which route to go or maybe even something different.

– Homi K Bhabha’s book The Location of Culture – can quote from YouTube videos about the book. It’s ok to reference someone else’s interpretation of the text.

– Also look at TCK – Third Culture Kids texts.

– Positionality – not essential to declare for this type of research paper. But also ok to do, can be in introduction or conclusion. Although not essential, maybe interesting to declare for the reader in my case so they understand my motives for the research.

– We discussed how fixed I am about making a ‘wearable painting’ – my feeling was that I was not fixed on it. I don’t want the act of making it wearable (searching for washable paint and materials etc.) to distract from the making. It is a painting that can be wore (briefly for say a photo-shoot) and not intended to be a piece of proper garment. Keeping it as a painting also means I can use my usual artist grade paint and materials.

– What next to make – I have ideas for two pop art themed Cheongsam paintings based on food as metaphor about heritage and identity. I will make those and then hopefully to make more after that. I am excited about this concept. The vision is to make many (exact number to be determined) such ‘dress as a canvas’ paintings for them to be displayed on headless mannequins as a collective installation. I am excited by this vision!