Externalising the Internal

samralphsstandring
May 30, 2019
1 min read

portraiture is a natural starting point as my practice. it’s how I have been externalising what’s inside. The use of subject, discussed in a crit, raised questions for me. Why children the majority of the time? Is it because I have based my project around the importance of creative compulsory education or is it a deeper message of vulnerability, a need to be protected. Innocence lost?

Also, why my own children? At the time I answered ‘ because they are there to hand’ which, is very true but on reflection, I feel love alongside the trauma and angst. They are the future. Something I can protect and keep safe. I am now the protector where in my trauma I feel vulnerable and Unsafe. I wonder if this is important to me?

a research beginning is documented through a mass of scribbles in a set of notebooks. Statistical information on the education system, researching journals that may be of interest, containment inside the ‘box‘ or breaking away from expectation.

Lending books of artists I love and have an empathy with. Jenny Saville, Egon Schiele, Klimt, Munch, Emin.

Looking at artists recommended, from a different perspective. Peter Blake, Joseph Cornell, Frank Aubach, Louise Bourgeois.

Exploring collections, treasures, keepsakes. All entwined within memory and different approaches to express.

There are are so many ways I could go with this!