The Options module in my MA Design:Craft. A series of lectures around the subjects of Location, objects and collections delivered by Dr. Steven Gartside formed the early part of this module. A brief was issued and the outcome of this brief was to present an exhibition of work. The project was a group one, and the group discussed options and decided upon the theme of ‘Palimpsest’.
‘Palimpsest’: from the Greek words ‘palin’ meaning ‘again’, and ‘psestos’ meaning ‘rubbed smooth’.
The term palimpsest is used to describe a manuscript or piece of writing material which has been reused by scraping or cleaning off previous text and image. In time, traces of this previous use may reappear, revealing the object’s layered history and juxtaposing text, image or other references from several different eras. A similar effect can often be seen on chalkboards, where we may be able to see partially erased marks, as well as in archaeology, architecture and landscape. A palimpsest, then, can be anything which has been reused or altered but still bears traces of its earlier form. The traces may be man-made, environmental, intentional or accidental, and could be temporal, spatial or even imaginary. The city is a place where constant transformation and regeneration suggests a never-ending palimpsest.
We propose that the exhibition will take the concept of ‘palimpsest’ as its theme, exploring notions of layering, concealing and revealing, traces, undertexts, erasure and historical narratives. It is a diverse, broad and malleable theme which can be investigated in numerous different ways via a conceptual approach as well as through aspects of artistic practice such as collage or layering techniques. Any urban or semi-urban landscape/environment can be used as a basis for research.
More information on palimpsests:
British Library
https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2016/09/palimpsests-the-art-of-medieval-recycling.html
Chicago School of Media Theory
The theme was explored individually and a venue was chosen, initially in Salford but this was changed to within the Benzie building at Manchester Metropolitan University, as this space was more accessible to the group and there were fewer limitations of space and time that would benefit the set up and logistics of the exhibition.
My exploration of the word ‘Palimpsest’ would consist of the discovery of discarded metallic objects which were then sympathetically cleaned so that these could be exhibited as an unconnected group which would encourage speculation about their origins and relationship to the collected group. A locative cue would be provided with the objects relating to the area these were found. The application ‘What3Words’ (http://www.what3words.com/) was used to provide information to allow viewers to visit the area in which the object was discovered virtually. The application has created a series of three random words to each 3 meter x 3 meter area of the planet and these words can be used within the application to locate a specific point on the map. The words would be presented with the object, but there would be no explanation presented to guide people to the application. The intent was to further encourage speculation in the viewer about the words and their relationship to the object. The hope was that the viewer would attempt to rationalise and link the object with the three words presented.
The objects were collected over a three month period between 23 November 2019 to 27 February 2020. Each object was catalogued, measured and cleaned and the location of the object was recorded. After cleaning, a photograph was taken with a stainless steel ruler presented alongside the object so that a scale of the object could be calibrated.
A base was designed which was to be laser cut then laser etched with the three words and used as a display stand for the object. However due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, it became clear that a physical exhibition could not be realised, and the group were forced to abandon plans for the exhibition. Further guidance was offered from MMU which allowed us to present a visualisation of the object instead, with a supporting document to explain our intent for the work.
This development meant that the original mode of display could not be achieved, so an exploration of a 3D visualisation ensued. Autodesk Fusion 360 was explored but this was a difficult piece of software to master within the limited timeframe before submission. Blender was also explored, but Adobe Dimensions was eventually chosen because it offered an interface which was familiar and was a relatively simple programme to use and the assets already designed came from another Adobe product (Adobe Illustrator).
The full documentation and final submission of this project is presented below. The final 3D rendering is not as convincing as it should be due to my limitations in using an unfamiliar piece of software, but the intent of the project has met my expectations.
Marronmade 