1000 words reflection :
Cresswell begins to explain the concept of space, stating that space is viewed as an area without meaning, as something basic and unrelated. However, he then says that once a human invests meaning into a space, they then become attached to it in some way, thus, it then becomes a place.I am interested in the ways in which place plays an active role in the constitution of culture and society.So this inspired and triggered me into making “The Residue” , exploring the facts and meanings behind the architectures of Storey Hall.
Cresswell stated ‘the ability of place to make the past come to life in the present and thus contribute to the production and reproduction of social memory.’ This truly indicates to my individual project , as I would never understand Storey Hall’s use of different colours, or the brick wall, the geometric shapes if I don’t realise it’s connection with the place’s memories. It is a building of endeavour and industry, celebrating individual qualities of making things, materials , textures, casting metals, colouring walls, and the power of imagination which adapts new communication and transmission technology . Storey Hall seems in the end to argue the glory of the human mind over that of artificial logic. Making people to wonder and start searching for it’s former lives, instead of visually show it on signs.
So from Cresswell’s idea of place is represented by it’s former lives, and the art of noticing in place and space, I have decided to focus on Storey Hall’s designs, as from my first time visiting the building, I was amazed and impressed by Its architecture aspects and how they instantly bring visitor an unique mood of playfulness and complexity. So I started to investigate and notice more, the use of lights and colours, the actually-not-random shapes and last but not least, the brick wall. As I noticed that Geogre also came across the brick wall and started to wonder the same question, what’s the purpose of leaving a brick wall surrounded by modern concrete walls, and that must be related to the building’s history, a hint from the architects to the public, that we should research deeper and find out by ourselves.
The brick wall brought me into researching a lot about Storey Hall’s histories and the architect’s message through the odd designs. And with the help of Abigail, I found an interesting interview on BBC, where the architects at A.R.M talk about their works. That’s when I decided to make a short documentary about Storey Hall’s architecture facts in relation to it’s former lives, using shots of it’s very special designs and follow up with a narration. Later on, Rachel introduced us a book called “Mongrel Rapture” , written by the A.R.M architects. That book has fulfilled my need of sources and information, helping me to finish my script and an informative and detailed narration.
There has been some difficulties and problems during the process of making my video. Firstly, I was flooded with too many information and facts about Storey Hall’s architecture design that I went off track in my narration and storyline. So after sorting out all the crucial information needed, I rearranged the narration to a simple but informative enough one, in order to still make the documentary not too long and boring. Secondly, the whole project to me was very time consuming because it’s an individual assessment. Previously , Im used to working in a crew where I never have to worry about writing a good plot, arranging work loads , preparing and casting narrator. Now I have to be a director, a producer, a cameraman and a post-production man in the same time. So I struggled without knowing it. I spent too much time on the wording process that I lacked the time to film,edit and narrate. So I rushed the editing process, causing a serious trouble with the audio files. I didnt convert the files ,and because I used 2 different computers at the same time, the files corrupted and I had to switch plans, using subtitles instead of a narration, which is far less effective, lack of creativity and is really boring and plain , but I had no choice. I think visually it’s not bad, but overall, my piece does not reflect me and my ability at my best. And honestly I’m not happy and satisfied with my final outcome.
On the other hand,I enjoyed the challenge of working solo and the experiences it brought me, so that I can learn from my mistakes and improve in the future. Also, I love participating in our group work where I can offer my abilities and experience to others, help my classmates to complete the virtual tour works and also their individual piece. I enjoy executing the idea of using youvisit and witnessing how the virtual tour turned out visually. About improvements, I could have arranged my time smarter, not rushing any process and execute my video better than this one.
I have discovered about my own creative practice that I tend to focus more on the wording process this time than the filming and executing the piece , which is completely different from previous semesters. That Im interested in hidden meanings and secret plays of telling stories through architectures. That I worried about completing the task too much that I lacked the use of creativity which I never failed at before. An interesting discovery after this semester.
Through out the course, my understand of place has developed from just a space, as I have not invested meaning in it yet, therefore, it cannot be transformed into a place; something solid and concrete. Although the media representations have provided me with a ‘sense of place’, it is not my own constructed meaning, hence it is not constructed personally; I merely take what the films show and regurgitate those mediated meanings. However, once I have noticed, and experienced, and researched about it, the idea of “space” transformed and involved into a certain “place”, with its histories, its own beauty and meanings rather than viewing it just as a physically location.
I have learned to notice more about memory, space, place and I also learned the importance of researching materials. From googling a phase to a really deep and informative search online and at the State Library, from just brainstorming ideas into backing it up with facts, histories, statistics and references. Moreover, I learned and experienced more about group work and how important communication and chemistry is .I believed I have acquired a lot of knowledge, skills and experience from this course.
Readings
Site Visits
Guests
- Professor Martyn Hook – did not complete
- Professor Paul Gough – did not complete
- Abigail Belfrage
- Jeremy Bowtell
Briefs
Work in-progress