Final year project
Memory Objects [Read more]
Maquette of Degree Show Exhibition Piece
This work shows my plans for the degree show exhibition. Here, I situate a video of my Grandad walking into frame and sitting on his armchair within a three dimensional set of his home. The work aims to encourage the viewer to reflect on the nostalgia of the home, in particular to how certain people are embodied by the space and objects surrounding them. The work is accompanied by a sound piece that moves around the space giving the illusion of the viewer being in the room itself and experiencing the surrounding sounds of the mundane happenings within the home.
Ceramic Armchairs
These ceramic chairs are made by slip casting from a plaster mould. Exploring the image of the armchair, these multiples are representative of the way a consumer object can be attached to a memory or be representative of a specific person. The nature of multiple objects suggests a production line with little resemblance to an emotional attachment. Contrasting this with intricately decorated and unique patterns represents how such a consumer object can become personal in our attachment to memory.
Projected Video on Model House
By projecting an old family video onto the surface of a replica model of my Grandparent’s house, I aim to explore the relationship between the physical structure of the house and the memories associated with it. The model, painted white, has a cold and uniform appearance, indistinguishable from any other semi-detached house. The structure however holds many significant memories, with the video projected on the outside of the house in many ways exposing the private sphere of the home to the viewers, inviting them to perhaps reflect on similar memories within their home.
Experimental Three Dimensional Projections
These works show the process through which I began experimenting with creating three dimensional, immersive video pieces. By projecting videos onto a sculptural piece, I was able to create the effect of someone being seated on the armchair. This experiment was crucial in developing the techniques of projection and video editing which I have used in my final degree showpiece.
Experimental Three Dimensional
This piece was another experimental work exploring the idea of situating a video within the setting of the home. Making a model of the room in which the video took place helps to separate the idea of a transient memory and a permanent physical object. On its own, the room looks cold and impersonal, yet when combined with the vibrant image of a family occasion, it helps to consider the separation of physical object and memory.
Experimental Three Dimensional Projection
This work helped to form an understanding of the way three-dimensional forms can work with projected video. The model is a replica of my Grandparent’s house which rotates to reveal different rooms. The way in which the images are projected helped me to understand that there needed to be more of a connection between the figures in the video and space. This helped me to discover a method of creating films in which the figures worked to scale within the space creating an illusion of someone within the room.
Experimental Three Dimensional Projection
This work helped to form an understanding of the way three-dimensional forms can work with projected video. The model is a replica of my Grandparent’s house which rotates to reveal different rooms. The way in which the images are projected helped me to understand that there needed to be more of a connection between the figures in the video and space. This helped me to discover a method of creating films in which the figures worked to scale within the space creating an illusion of someone within the room.
Stencil Screen Print Armchair
This screenprint includes an image of the armchair, a recurring motif throughout my work. I was able to create an intricate three-layered stencil, cut from paper to achieve the pattern of the chair.
Eleanor Walker
Working mainly with projected video and sculpture, my work aims to explore the relationship between our memories of people and places with their associations to certain objects.
My work aims to explore the theme of memory and nostalgia in relation to physical objects. I am interested in the way that objects can act as physical reminders or pointers to memories through their association to specific people or places. The motif of the armchair became a prominent image in my work, acting in many ways as a personification of the people who have sat in the chair. The worn areas and creases retain memories of the characteristics of people, becoming objects that embody the owner. In my work, I want the viewer to be able to reflect on their own personal connections between objects and memories associated with them. Throughout my degree, I have developed skills in sculpture, video and sound work. Using plaster, I have been able to create moulds to form multiple works yet also be more ambitious in making larger-scale works for the degree show. Through working with video and sound, I have become knowledgeable in video and sound editing with the interactive and immersive potential of an installation piece being an important aspect of my work. I hope to continue working creatively after my degree with an interest in pursuing a career in the creative industry or continuing my studies with a master’s degree.
Final year project
Memory Objects
Awards
Drawing published in The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020