Review / Workshop Helen Carnac: Marking Place... Antwerp 2011 (with BA3)
3 & 4, 15 & 16 MARCH 2011
Contemporary jewelry artist, research professor and curator Helen Carnac, working and teaching in London, U.K., arrived at St Lucas University College of Art and Design Antwerp, jewelry design-goldsmithing department, to lead the second workshop of the week: ‘Marking Place…Antwerp 2011’. Third year bachelors were invited to take part in this (workshop).
Contemporary jewelry artist, research professor and curator Helen Carnac, working and teaching in London, U.K., arrived at St Lucas University College of Art and Design Antwerp, jewelry design-goldsmithing department, to lead the second workshop of the week: ‘Marking Place…Antwerp 2011’. Third year bachelors were invited to take part in this (workshop).
From the start, Helen Carnac made clear that she did not know her way around Antwerp. A map was laid out, and students could express how much of Antwerp they knew. Some had been living here all their lives, and others had just moved here to study. This reflected in the routes they would take, daily or occasionally. In a calm and relaxed atmosphere, all participants had input to the route that was mapped out. It turned out to be a tour, going out from the centre of Antwerp towards the harbor, and coming back in again at the ‘Linkeroever’ (Left-bank in Flemish). Helen Carnac touched on the subject of individual collecting: picking up things or taking photographs. Both can focus on marks left by man, familiar or unfamiliar, as a documentation of time. Armed with cameras and collecting bags the students set out on their walk.
It was obvious from the start, that every student had a different approach to documenting the walk. Some had been collecting found objects since childhood, while others were new to the phenomenon. Some preferred to take pictures, while others knew exactly what to pick up and what not. It was interesting how some students instinctively pointed out ‘collectables’ for others.
Back in the atelier, all the collections were laid out individually, and photographs were uploaded onto the computer, in order to get a complete view of what went on during the walk. In the end, the tour was done in two days and part of the route had been altered which was quickly mapped out. Helen Carnac discussed with the participants how they could bring a system into their finds. How would they document their own route as an individual (even though it is the same route as everyone else’s)? The participants were asked, to go back to the spot, where a mark of interest was found or photographed. How could understanding of it be developed? How can marks be translated into making a piece or pieces? With these (remarks and) questions the workshop postponed for one week, leaving the participants to work on their own.
Back in the atelier, all the collections were laid out individually, and photographs were uploaded onto the computer, in order to get a complete view of what went on during the walk. In the end, the tour was done in two days and part of the route had been altered which was quickly mapped out. Helen Carnac discussed with the participants how they could bring a system into their finds. How would they document their own route as an individual (even though it is the same route as everyone else’s)? The participants were asked, to go back to the spot, where a mark of interest was found or photographed. How could understanding of it be developed? How can marks be translated into making a piece or pieces? With these (remarks and) questions the workshop postponed for one week, leaving the participants to work on their own.
The workshop restarted, after the participants had spent time thinking and working individually, on the previous findings. Every student had a moment to show which system they had found to document and translate their collection and photographs into work. Some literally took outlines of their finds to base their work on. Others worked with their entire collection of found objects. Overall, everyone managed to create a system and use it.
With these interesting and very different outcomes, it was time to think of a way to present them. How can these different collections represent the single route they are coming from? Under Helen Carnacs’ gentle curative guidance, an exhibition started to take shape. Since the photographs really helped recreating a visual memory, they were used as a chronological guide of the communal walk. To mimic a timeline, a long piece of horizontal string was pinned to the wall to hold the photographs. At relevant places on the string, vertical strings were attached to lead to the individual systemized collections, photographs and work. Occasionally words were added, marking the intimacy of the walk in Antwerp.
- Broes van Iterson -
www.broesvi.com
broesvitrine.blogspot.nl/
- Broes van Iterson -
www.broesvi.com
broesvitrine.blogspot.nl/
