Amanda Project 3

WEEK 9 

"Artistic representations and memorials not only commemorate the events but also argue for relevance of art as a viable tool for social commentary and protest." http://holocaustmusic.ort/memorial/memoiralso/

This quote resonated for me regarding the subject matter I have chosen to research, explore and create in response to. More importantly were the words - 'argue for relevance.'

I am choosing to start a dialogue regarding miscarriage.
As a new mummy and a mummy to be again soon, all the issues surrounding motherhood, pregnancy, birth, potential outcomes both positive and negative, pre and post natal existence and the anthropological viewpoints of person hood are of concern to me.

Pregnancy creates conversation between woman - pregnancy stories are shared. Stories of loss, hope and joy all cross the table. Many of my close female friends or family members have experienced the loss of a pregnancy. What was relevant to all these woman was that while their society of family and friends, doctors, mother club social networking sites etc encouraged a confering of great intensity on the person hood of the fetus, that same social network revoked that person hood when the miscarriage occurred. There is little acknowledgment in Western culture of miscarriage, no ritual to cleanse the grief.

Japanese culture does have a Jizo ritual when a miscarriage occurs. Called Mizuko - literally meaning water child. "Mizuko kuyō (水子供養^?) or "fetus memorial service", is a Japanese ceremony for those who have had a miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion. This practice has become particularly visible since the 1970s with the creation of shrines devoted solely to this ritual. Reasons for the performance of these rites can include parental grief,or a desire to comfort the soul of the fetus."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizuko_kuy%C5%8D

My intention is to appropriate aspects of this Buddhist Japanese ceremony and create a series of pieces that gently 'argue for a relevant place' -  that of a woman's grief surrounding loss of pregnancy in Western society.

I envisage the work to reference the temporal and the ethereal. To validate, personalize and commemorate each woman's story. For the works installation properties to be emotive and be amenable to all persons regardless of gender, ethnicity or religious background.
I hope for the work to be documented via film or photo with a real ceremony involving the woman and the works - then the works themselves be installed in situ echoing elements of the ceremony.

I would like to work with paper, written word, silver thread, knitting or crochet, resin or another water proof substrate, mirrors and water.

I see the works at this stage taking on a round, organic, curvaceous shape that is semi transparent and infused with word and other material elements.

I also see a place for a sound component to accompany the installation. I am approaching a musician later this week to discuss a collaboration. This will not be a performance piece. The sound will be recorded and then become an infused element within the work itself.

Little jizo with traditional bib and bonnet

http://www.wordpress.tokyotimes.org/archives/little_jizo102.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnkmARJX5DHZnsriwxhYB9cIomtoRN6K3BUZ6tqQOsgvGCCpTC1Wo03GiFao8AOT-Lw0N0m1s-UB4YNlOUZCSwx8CohIYKTL-zIwOwe4UTOJYKT-7r8ULDWnZ_ZlnqN8BrdMlRZwTc336/s400/harahoge+in+water.jpg

WEEK 10

This week my work towards Memorial Project 3 has included groundwork consultations with Southcoast glass regarding construction of a mirrored rectangular receptacle - part of the final installation. I have also been in meetings with a local boat builder who specializes in epoxy resins and waterproof clear coatings who is advising me on substrates for the vessels I am constructing in order to make them water worthy. I have three sessions booked in with a musician to brainstorm, compose and record the score that will accompany the installation. I have had fantastic initial conversations with the woman who are now thinking over involvement with this concept. Two locations have been chosen for the ceremony and photo/film documentation in the beautiful Jervis Bay region.

Mirror Work.

Craig from South Coast glass is currently putting a quote and timeframe together for the 5 sided rectangular mirrored receptacle. The size is 1500 x 650 x 100cm. The mirror side that will sit on the ground is customised with a reflected tree design. This is done through applying a self - designed transfer  onto the mirror. The mirror then undergoes a chemical peel that strips away the mirror backing of copper and silver leaving the transfers design behind. This receptacle will be silicon adhered together so that it able to be filled with water.

Waterproofing Vessels.

I am completing some mock ups of vessels using the primary material of tissue paper and fine metal wire. Then I am meeting with Peter a local boat builder. He is going to make up some varying thicknesses of epoxy resins which we can play around with. He thinks we can apply the resin to the vessels using a paint brush and it will not adversely react to paper. Then we will allow to dry and give them a test of water worthiness. The epoxy will only be applied to the bottom 1/4 of the vessel, the part that displaces the water - these will be measurements that will have to be played around with.

Music.

Steve Smyth is an amazingly talented musician. I am excited to be able to collaborate with him on this project. Over the next 2 weeks we have a few sessions to compose and record the vocal and piano score that will accompany this work. We have agreed so far that the instrumentation will be in an arrangement of minor monophonic keys and the vocalisation will be a progression of sustained notes reminiscent of  sounds made by women in labour, of women audibly grieving, a primal kind of sighing - together we hope it to be a sombre yet uplifting, achingly sweet lamentation. References for this kind of composition can be found in Gregorian chants or old Latin dirge songs.

Women.

I have approached six women who have experienced a miscarriage. Each of these women are spending some time thinking over being a part of this memorial ceremony and allowing their story to be suffused throughout the art work. Along with indicating interest I have asked these courageous women to compose a small piece of writing relating to their experience. This may take the form of a name they gave their unborn, prose that articulates their grief or even a personal design that depicts the state of their heart or body that surrounded them during that time. The plan is to gather these responses and formalise them into material components of each vessels construction. This will be the voice within the piece. This voice is the pivot, the central concept to the works validity and reason for its existance.

Location.

Moona Moona Creek, Jervis Bay, NSW

Myola on Currembene Creek. Jervis Bay, NSW

High Tide Sunrise or Sunset. Times throughout May 2012

Date options for ultimate results photographically regarding high tides and sunrise light are:

Sunrise and high tides

Fri 18th 6.47am sunrise. 6.20am high tide 1.3 m

Sat 19th 6.48am sunrise. 7.00am high tide 1.2 m ***this is the best morning***

Sun 20th 6.49am sunrise. 7.45am high tide 1.2 m

Sunset and high tides

Mon 14th 5.03pm sunset. 4.00pm high tide 1.4m

Tue 15th 5.02pm sunset. 4.45pm high tide 1.4 m ***this is best evening***

 

 

WEEK 11