PPD1 Fine Art and Site

For this last project we were asked to create work with a specific site. The site was Thwaites Mill and when walking around on the first visit the one thing I noticed was there was a lot of tags hanging off various pieces of machinary, as well as some that if you text the number, you would receive a poem about the machinary. The tags were something of a discovery, as you noticed one you realised there were loads all around the mill.

I found thinking of ideas for site quite hard as the work had to relate somehow to the site. the history of the mill also interested me and listening to the stories of the past owners inspired me to try and use history in the work.

As I was finding it difficult to start any ideas, me and Amy decided to collaborate as we both noticed the tags and were equally stuck for ideas. We had several discussions which instantly helped with ideas and we decided using the tags was a good starting point. Something we both wanted to experiment with was scale, and we instantly thought of several tags as we could utilise the fact there was two of us to make.

As I was really interested in the history, we went and visited York archives in the library to see if there was any information, and to then visit Leeds library to find specific information. There we found loads of different types of tags which had different identification uses, and draws and draws of family history. As the tag is traditionally used to indentify people, we wanted to use information relating to the families that used to own Thwaites Mill. This was quite hard to come by and had another idea to maybe use the information of the visitors to the Mill, which we got off the staff at Thwaites.

We had more discussuions and walked around the site to see where we wanted to be. The main idea we had was to produce a series of metal tags and hang them. One idea was inside the Mill and another outside amongst the trees. We decided outside as it had the element of discovery which the tags inside the mill had. Discovering them in the trees and having them reflecting the sun. We chose metal as it would be able to withstand the weather conditions as well as recreating something that normally would perish, into a permenant thing. We looked at artists such as Annette Messager for inspiration for the type of installation we wanted. As there are two of us we could make more tags than if there was just one person.

We aimed to make around 600 tags as that was a specific number of visitors during one month, but the tags took time and money to make and after one day in the metal workshop we only make around 50. After talking to the metal technician, she advised us to use copper and aluminuin as they would rust easiest so we used all the scrap metal we could to save metal. We measured and cut each tag by hand, and punched a hole into the top.We had another discussion at the crits and with each other about what to put on the tags. We looked at Emily Prince as inspiration and had ideas such as photos of the workers, signatures, names and numbers. But decided that plain would say more as numbers or names would be too obvious as to what the tags were about. It also allows people to figure out a meaning for themselves. Originally we were going to hang the tags with wire from the trees, but issues with finance and getting hold of wire we went for natural coloured string which worker beautifully. It allowed the tags to move and occasionally make noise adding another element to the piece.

We looked at different types of knots also, to keep the piece looking neat and went for the 'noose' knot. As the noose traditionally is linked to death it added another element that death was a part of working at the Mill in the past and links with history. We installed the tags and instatntly realised that the wind would tangle them tags up. The majority untangled themselves but realised that that would be part of the piece as part of site. If this were to be installed anywhere else it wouldn't have the same concept or links at all. The trees we chose almost formed an arch way that really helped frame the tags and overall I am very pleased with the final piece.

As this project is resulting in an exhibition night, I really feel I've learnt how exhibitions are organised and set up. I'm really pleased with our piece and working in a partnership has opened my eyes even more since the collaboration project to a different type of collaboration, to which this one I preferred as I wasn't relying on loads of people. Working with site was difficult at first, if mostly financially, travelling there and back as well as materials was a struggle. It has resulted in a really positive experience though and an exhibition night along side my peers.