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Nigel Edwards. Course: BA(Hons) W232 ADZ6222 Research & Development. Gesamtkunstwerk Project
Course/ Module No. ADZ6222
Module Name: Research and Develoment
Project Title: Gesamtkunstwerk Project
Submission Dates: PORT 1 Deadline 13th December 2019
9th December 2019
REFLECTIONS ON THE PROJECT
GESAMTKUNSTWERK BOWL
500 Learning Journal Entry
Core Characteristics and the Position of my Work in the Wider Ceramic Field
In order to define my reflections and development over the last few months of this
project I referred to my statement of intent which I wrote for the summer project; reviewing my
intentions revealed core characteristics, which I only recognise now after applied study, analysis
and personal skills development.
Revisiting the opportunities of development and research over the last four months has
made me realise how exposure to events, artist, lectures, and skills tutorials have enabled me to
grow as a ceramic practitioner and help me begin to understand my direction, and where my
work could be positioned in the wider ceramic field. The opportunities presented to me were
engaging and insightful.
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Nigel Edwards. Course: BA(Hons) W232 ADZ6222 Research & Development. Gesamtkunstwerk Project
The Ceramic Communities Symposium: “Restating Clay”
“Finding Your Voice” Project.
The opportunity of attendance and involvement
in the Ceramic Communities conference titled
“Restating Clay” was an inspirational event which
enabled access to important contemporary practitioners
who informed about their investigations and
interpretations of clay, the creation of artefacts, the way
in we interact with them, and how ways of thinking
about process could be relevant to me in relation to my
personal practice.
The project, “Finding Your Voice” has
been of great use to my understanding of the
type and number of journals that are readily
available to not only inform my research for my
creative intentions here at University, but also
has helped me evaluate which publications are
relevant to my research and development of my
work, and positioning it in terms of my future
professional development.
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Nigel Edwards. Course: BA(Hons) W232 ADZ6222 Research & Development. Gesamtkunstwerk Project
Still Life and Creative Strategies
Vicarious Wednesdays, and Into the Fold
Jonathan Clarkson’s series of
lectures considering Still Life explained how
symbolism and representation have been
the theme, reason and explanation of all
genres of art throughout history; however
the creation of still life painting by 17th
century Dutch painters brought about
societal recognition and enthusiasm for
interpreting artistic intentions. Recognition
of symbolic representation further informed
and encouraged me to “read” the artwork to
gain a greater depth of message from any
creative object whether the creative piece is
a painting, a musical work or a ceramic
artefact.
The weekly seminars of Vicarious Wednesdays and
Into the Fold has given me great privileged access to observe
how professional ceramic practitioners develop and create
their work.
The diverse ranges of these seminars have
enlightened me in such topics as skills development
creative rationales and professional development
encouraging me with ideas to evolve my work and
practice.
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Nigel Edwards. Course: BA(Hons) W232 ADZ6222 Research & Development. Gesamtkunstwerk Project
BCB Festival Visit
Skills Development
This British Ceramics Biennial festival celebrates
diverse practices of renowned ceramic based talent and
gave great insight into how to develop core characteristics of
my work in exhibiting a wealth of process of interpretation
and ceramic techniques.
The curation of the great spectrum of talent was an
important aspect of the exhibition from which I gained
inspiration, helping me to understand the possibilities of how
to develop my statements and references, and how to
position them in context.
Weekly tutorials greatly improved all aspects
of my ceramic practice particularly in developing my
technical throwing and glazing skills. I endeavoured
to pursue parallel learning; investigating glazing to
aid my dissertation research.
I also challenged my throwing skills by using the
Gesamtkunstwerk Bowl project to design and throw wide and
shallow forms. Regular weekly iterations of my part one and part
two bowl, have informed me of good practice at all stages of
ceramic development, from clay and material considerations to
kiln packing programming and firing.
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Nigel Edwards. Course: BA(Hons) W232 ADZ6222 Research & Development. Gesamtkunstwerk Project
Evaluation of Ideas which Emerged as my Practice Evolved
Positioning my work in the Wider Field of Ceramics
Reviewing the last four months of learning,
access to opportunities, and peer presentations I am
beginning to recognise who I am as a ceramicist, what
my statements are, and recognising my core
characteristics; these often tacit criteria are key
performance indicators which I will keep in mind as my
practice evolves. I have realised that I not only am
inspired by technical and functional design, I also
have an underlying wish to incorporate sculptural
elements in my work.
Through seminars and research I found that I am
particularly interested in the parallel disciplines of artists
who focus on their sculptural work, and also develop
functional, more commercial endeavours. I need to
consider where I position my work in the field of
ceramics as I pivot between functional forms and
sculptural work. I am interested in the parallel disciplines
of artists such as Eusebio Sanchez; I will consider his
methods and also re-visit ceramicists such as Bryan
Newman- whose work I particularly identify with. Both
these artists have created sculptural and functional
works in parallel to each other. I am considering the idea
that this dual approach is a rewarding and creative way
of working; satisfying creative intentions of two
disciplines within my practice.