Initial research & plan for Product, Range & Distribution - London Museums & Galleries

Initial research & plan for Product, Range & Distribution - London & Local Museums & Galleries 

Before narrowing down to a specific area of interest to examine relating to design & artwork that resonates with subjects like social, ethical and political change I gathered a range of first hand research from a visit to London & other local art galleries. 

A vast array of initial research both historical and contemporary will allow me to chose a subject area that will interest me and motivate me to gather an informed large body of research for progressing into an investigation of a specific subject.

This contextual research will then feed into the creating of a practical body of work reacting to this specific subject area but tying in relevant creative skill sets to emulate and visualize these ideals showing considered awareness of the subject in a context where the outcomes are seen to do "good", protest, show ethical considerations as a base starting point. 

Saatchi Gallery
There was a few good examples of relevant work in some of the rooms in the Saatchi, these selections mainly relating to Pop art and consumerism and its relationship with mass production.  

 

I love the sense of pastiche and history within this oil painting representing a journey through production of ornate door handles. Showing a journey through production methods and how aesthetics and functionality has developed and advanced to benefit the end user both through both aesthetics and functionality. 

Referencing history and change through visual mediums like this is very effective, no typography is needed to explain the concept it just speaks for itself. Very effective communication.  

Bill Woodrow's Hoover Breakdown shows how physical installations can make quite a well communicated impact, showing a deconstruction of the parts to me shows ideas of how everyday items have become "disposable". 

Tsang King-Wah screen printed wallpaper representing an aggressive reaction to marketing through quotes that argue against the ideas of marketing techniques within a consumerist society, I like the subtle floral pattern repet from a distance that is elegant and lighthearted but on closer inspection its use of words and language contrast this completely. 

Still using the pop art movement as a creative background these works focus on advertising and consumerism. 

This example by He An uses installation as a method to simulate deterioration of "fashionable" marketing through this example using neon lights and bold contrasting colors within a neon sign thats deconstructed and broken. This idea of deconstruction is something worth exploring to emulate the deterioration of something.   

He uses video games as a vessel for addressing consumerist issues, merging together old arcade games that clearly influence the aesthetics of the digital aesthetic on the print work and the 80's influenced clashing colour to resonate and reflect the era where the need for these video games were rife.

It also emulates violence and war through video game mediums, this could reference to violence caused by video games as well as the delicate issues with the cyber attacks Korea are currently accuses off. 

 

Less subtle is the works here presented in poster mediums to reach out to wide ranges of target audiences in efficient ways, referencing problems within capitalism through big business areas like New York. Emulating location through photography and connotations like apples. 
 

This installation uses "caviar" as a reference to consumerism, people buying things they don't need. The idea of a room creates a sense of everyday life and how its all around us and the consideration to color and design links well with the first things first manifesto and there mentioning on how designers use there skills to sell commercial products. 


A classic target when it comes to abusing consumerist organizations is Coca Cola, represented here by Alexander Kosolapov using political slogans of Vladimir Lenin a Russian communist here to represent mass culture. 

Tom Sachs reflects capitalist cultures in this mixed media construction, emulating Mcdonald's in a negative light through the detail within the sculpture like axes, chemicals, confined conditions. Outlining the underlying problems that hare hidden behind their brand identity. 

Religion is a problem at the moment, featured in the media for been a cause of lots of problems at the moment the Saatchi addressed this issue with an exhibition.  

Andres Serranos Piss christ represents current religious problems, his work was there to make a statement on the misuse of religion. So the representation of this seems very relevant to informing people of this problem through creative outcome. 

Gu Wenda addresses the other side of conflicting nations and religions through the installation using human hair, this use of material simulates unity and aims at addressing a larger problem of nations been segregated. Aiming to create a cultural and social change in a sense where we need to all come together. 

The addition of the Recycle groups "f" that represents the current social issue with social media, people are not experiencing real word experiences due to addiction to these sites. Its also quite relevant with the placement of this installation with social media influencing uneducated muslims to join terrorist groups.   

Tate Modern
The Tate Modern had a great variety of work covering a range of potential focus area both contemporary and historic. 

Paule Vezelay 
Abstraction Movment
Called herself "Paule" to both hide her female orientation within a feminist society.
Uses curves and lines to contrast to suggest space & movement. 

A series of Propaganda style posters, using a strong use of red and screen print aesthetic to maintain this gritty style. The posters were created by eastern european artists to visualize problems of capitalism & conflicting within War. 

The work within the next few examples cover gender divisions and political themes through the use of materials that denote feminine crafts. 

Margaret Harrison references textile production playing with color interaction and varying craft techniques, the idea behind presenting textile crafts address's the connection between woman and there identity as housekeepers, family leaders, workers and crafters. 

RoGer Hiorns uses chemicals and minerals to create this unique aesthetic that references ideas of growth, change and tension between industrial and organic factors, this was one of the strongest pieces at the Tate, the engine covered in blue copper sulphate crystals connects with a small model of a gothic cathedral connected to the engine, leaving the viewer to perceive factors just as the industrial revolution effecting religion or maybe even religion is the engine to society? Effective artwork often leaves people guessing as opposed to graphic design which is swift and efficient communication. 

The work of Nam Jun Paik explores the use of electrical equipment to create sculptures and artwork to represent an era where global communications technology was beginning to make its way into every day life. He references 1930s & 40s consumer goods mostly to add pastiche to his work, this shows how considering historic references is important when creating contemporary artwork that wants to make a strong argument there needs to be sufficient evidence to support it.  

These works by Nam June Paik use mixed media and traditional print to reference political messages, particularly referencing conversations between US Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Turkish Minister of affairs, using culture, politics and social factors as influence for the abstract aesthetics. 

Photography has always been an excellent method of communicating messages, these works are taken from the 1930s to the 1960s. During the fascist era and a birth of a new democratic society new styles of photography came about deriving from modernist practices. 

These photographs explore composition, technique and formalist experimentation to represent a change within Italy from harsh conditions progressing to the modernization of society through the post war economic and industrial boom. A good method of documentation. 

This work explores 3D structures, something I want to start bringing into my work to express ideas in a more physical media. The work focuses on abstraction and constructivism influenced by geometric forms, naturally occurring patterns, mathematical systems, the folding section, fibonacci sequence, organic and asymmetrical factors. In terms of addressing social, ethical and political issues they don't really do this but I like the techniques, process's and concepts. 

These examples using Minimalism to represent 'Structure & Clarity" based on the concepts of mass production/industrial techniques and visualized through minimalism and constructivism movements, the work also highlights how color and shape can communicate a message. 

Design Museum
The Design Museum has an excellent exhibition addressing feminism and fashion as a method of enhancing there position within society. 

Historic references have been used to represent how dress was seen as a signal of wealth, The Hatshepsut & Cleopatra are classic examples of Woman been expressed as powerful within society. 

There has been a number of powerful woman politicians, using documentary photography to express there powerful images in these settings relying on smart & corporate fashion, they dress like this to emulate their importance and feel confident about themselves making themselves feel powerful. 

Fashion mirrors society, throughout history the clothes worn especially by royalty reflect there position in society. 

Women dressed to make a protest, shown here at the end of the 19th century woman fighting for the right for voting, using clothing that emulates there "roles" in society that they are expected to carry out, the use of a cooking apron contradicts this idea while including a protesting message. Using contradiction is a good way of making a strong message. 

Magazines and editorial are used as vessels to represent fashion and its impact on society, Vogue magazine has been around for a very long time and the brand image hasn't really changed much since using the same sans serif typeface, this consistency has placed it firmly into society as an influential woman fashion magazine that address's a range of issues, political, social, cultural, environmental to name a few. 

Product design can also address problems, the Fairphone aims to solve economic problems in third world countries, aiding the ability for them to communicate on an affordable level using recycled materials and fair wages to the workers. 

This shows how design responds to political and social change, the challenge in modern day society is to retain the value of recycled material by either reusing it or producing products from it. 

Touching on contradictory factors here in a more extreme sense, both these products where creatures during WW2 and very successful at there intended purpose, they both show understanding of ergonomics and production to create well produced outcomes relevant for there use. 

James Christian proposes a solution to Britain's housing problem, taking influence from past architecture like the late Victorian Rookeries which where self organized housing placed within close proximity, by taking consideration of this efficient positioning he proposes plans on how to reclaim unused space in efficient ways. 

His models and comic book style prints lend themselves to very well considered aesthetics and construction techniques that portray the intended message very efficiently through light hearted colors and simple materials. 

Some of my favorite work of the Designers in Residence exhibition, Llona Gaynor developed a project that presents a hypothetical legal case, the fixing of a live National Lottery Draw. The idea behind it is to represent an interpretation of how the law can be manipulated by nature in which evidence is received, reenacted and recounted. 


These posters addressed social and finical issues, playing on each other to create a response based on fictional products offered by banks suggesting how they may offer assistance in every day life like like insurance for social media ranging to health benefits. 

Victoria & Albert
The Disobedient objects exhibition at the V&A use a variety of items ranging from household items to cars. The idea behind the exhibition as to present the role these objects have within social change and demonstrates how political activism drives a wealth of design ingenuity and collective creativity that rebel against common definitions of art & design. 

A piece of design using way finding as a vessel to touch on issues related to war and its effects on people, using a simple silhouette within a military aircraft. 

These set of "playing cards" called 'Regime Change Begins at Home' by Noel Douglas, reflect on a set of cards handed out to soldiers in iraq in 2003 that list the names, roles and address's of members of Saddam Husseins government. Using a reversal of this dry humor on the main bodies involved in the war in iraq. 

Problems with economy outline the unbalance between the rich and poor in America  outlining the fact 400 of the wealthiest people in america have as much wealth as 150'000'000 of the poorer side of society. A powerful message applied to a conceptually relevant vessel. 

A similar idea was presented in this idea highlighting the income growth of the richest and how their income rose over time but the poorer just got poorer, another clear and effective message. 

The Tiki Love Truck is an excellent example of a shire, keeping alive the memory of John Joe 'Ash' Amador who was executed by the state of Texas in 2007. The detail within the truck like his death mask represents final memories of his life and the use of quotes and subliminal messages through image and sculpture help strengthen the statement the truck makes against the death penalty. The vehicle is often seen at festivals and parades to spread the message. 

 

A sense of unity was achieved through this interactive installation, additions from supporters of current problems across the globes have been posted on the board. Trying to provoke reaction both positive and negative, there was an especial focus on the Charlie Hebdo issue at current. 

This piece of work swayed away from social focus's and focused on animal rights and the environment, using effective high impact headers and the use of strong emotive colors a clear message on the damage against sea life is made. Especially focusing on dolphins, this poster provokes anger through its use of language and color and design aesthetic. Showing how influential simple design can be. 

There was a range of work referencing current issues to do with religion and the current violence that is coming from it and how it's creating a social divide globally. 

 

Hepworth Wakefield
These prints by Barbara Hepworth, Naum Gabo and Stanley William Hayter use lino printing, etching, engraving, analogue techniques, mono print and lithograph techniques that reference geometric and abstract forms that link to ancient greek cultures, although not representing a social change. Considering cultural values is important when creatine ethical work, and when focusing on a target audience its important to consider wider issues like this. 

Eduardo Paolozzi's psychedelic screen print, the use of collage here represents his juxtaposition of deceased celebrity's like John F Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe interacting with robots telephones and laval lamps creating a very clever and aesthetically pleasing reference to American Consumerism. The use of a circuit of lines and dials emulates the human circulation system giving off ides of this been the heart of this "consumerist" machine. 

These magazine spreads where articles supporting works that focus on a contemporary attitude towards art that influences mass consumer culture, the use of image is enlarged from its original source to give off a grainy quality to give off this powerful and provocative feeling.