Author: pavszymanskiart

Current research issue - Hypnotic Repetition Pav Szymanski Painter Biography: I am a fine art painter and video artist with 30 years of experience. My current research project is based on creating visual responses to my observations of people, who are suspended in the vacuum of hypnotic repetition. I have travelled the world interviewing and recording individuals, who genuinely struggle with their existence in the context of their survival. I have gathered substantial primary sources and evidence from destinations across the globe. Perhaps, the most significant research findings were from Haiti and Myanmar and resulted in the production of the most spectacular paintings. They have inspired me to develop new and innovative ways of working and experimenting with image making, which are appropriate to the subject. They combine the best of traditional achievements and the power of contemporary thinking and deep reflection. I work full time as a programme coordinator for Art & Design at a large institution offering a broad range of FE and HE qualifications. I am also an external examiner for the UAL and AQA. Artist Statement: Through my projects I feel that I discover my inner fears, longings and re-evaluate my uncertainties. My work seems to be an attempt to explore and question by metaphorical presentation my response to the hidden truths of the world. The essence of the value of these works is in their inherent meaning and an atmosphere, which manifests itself in the dusk of the space portrayed, thus the light may appear, where the hue of colour fulfils clarity and sounds with harmonious melody. https://hypnoticrepetition.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOq7lHQlrOnKozGz95Hq2CA?view_as=subscriber https://www.instagram.com/pavszymanski/?hl=en https://spark.adobe.com/page/fQ9VytzHNpWq9/
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Artist Talk – Kaori Homma

Kaori’s presentation was a very personal review of her own art work and inspirations. To contextualise this and extend our critical analysis of her work, she framed her practice by recollecting several important life events, which were pivotal in the refining of her practice.

She identified the impact of her motherhood, life-threatening illness of her daughter and the recent Tsunami in Japan as the three most remarkable stages in the development of her art practice.

Maori has also elaborated on her broad understanding of her creative practice and identified a number of key components, which make a contribution to the holistic idea of being an artist.

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Tutorial with Lois Rowe – Day 2

Hypnotic Repetition

Art project questioning reoccurrence and ritual as a distraction to the uncertainties of tomorrow.

Tutorial with Lois Rowe, Matt and Betty

Learning Centre – 10-12.30

I presented my work as the third person, after Matt and Betty.

Following a brief outline of my ideas, we started to discuss the essence of my conceptual framework and supporting thinking.

It become apparent that all recipients were fascinated by my stories and observations from my travels. The outcome of this tutorial has reinforced previous suggestions by Jonathan to include a background narrative, which gives an insight into my relationship with my models and their story.

Lois was extremely helpful and guided me carefully until I was in a position to refine my plans for the final exhibition. The vital questions remain unchanged:

What is my work all about?

What am I trying to communicate?

What is the element of questioning in my work?

How am I using the visual language in order to communicate complex ideas?

Finally, including self in the research process.

I am very grateful for that. I need to focus more on the holistic use of my language in the final exhibition.

The tutorial was recorded by Betty and I am waiting for a copy of this file.

Thanks to Betty, I have pasted a link to sound recordings of all three tutorials. My session is last.

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Cyanotype Workshop – Day 1

This year’s Low Res programme started with a cyanotype workshop run by Matt from the British Library.

Following an introduction to the process and a range of discussions of possibilities, we proceeded with practical experimentation. Most participants collaged photocopies on acetate of sources from the British Library. With Jonathan’s help, I managed to download and print two copies of my paintings.

During the coating stage, my intention was to contradict smoothness and eve was of the chemical film on the surface. I wanted to achieve a more uncertain and unpredictable effect. I used sponge brushes in a spontaneous and dynamic way, trying to create a layered and broken effect.

Unfortunately, the light from the strip lights was powerful enough to begin exposing the paper before it had a chance to dry. I resulted to aiding this process with a hair dryer and protected the pieces from further damage by storing them in a black plastic bag.



The next stage was based on preparation and further enhancement of the acetate photocopies. I used permanent black pens to refine the images and emphasise both the shapes as well as stains and textures. Here again, my intention was to create images with are non visually descriptive. I wanted to achieve effects of ambiguity leading to curiosity and a range of possible interpretations.

Subsequently, after exposing my work in UV light boxes for 15 to 20 minutes, the results have exceeded my expectations. The work is mysterious and has poetic and spiritual resemblances.
I will definitely experiment further with this images to refine them further using a digital process, perhaps even moving image trials and animations.




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Low Res Preparation

I am really excited to be able to take part in the second Low Res at Camberwell College of Art, London. I have already made bookings for the train journey, hotel stay and a visit to the Whitechapel Gallery.

The incinerate looks very good and covers a range of tutorial, workshops, gallery visits and presentations. All these events will make a substantial contribution to the overall learning process. Group discussions and interactive learning will help me to prepare myself better for the final exhibition in June and July 2020.

I am really looking to exchanging ideas with my piers and benefiting from working in a stimulating, dynamic and diverse studio environment.

There is also a number of planned visits to contemporary galleries, exhibitions and talks.

I will be also very nice to catch up with everyone on the course.

Due to storm Denis, my journey to London was severely disrupted. There was a coach service operating between Exeter and Taunton and then, the connecting train was redirected via Bristol.
Unfortunately, I will miss the last activity on Friday, 28th February.
I need to return at the end on Thursday in order to return to work the following morning.
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New Screen

Following a long process of digital manipulation, I have finally developed a satisfactory image. It portrays a form of a spin painted splash. This echoes the flow of marks in the background.

Subsequently, a new screen has been exposed, processed and washed. I am very excited about a range of new possibilities for overprinting using this device next week.

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Thai Masseur – Recent Progress

I have made some progress with my recent piece.  The key focus was to start gradually building up a range of colour layers with sensitivity.  I tried to avoid loosing a diversity of previously created marks and accidental stains.  However, due to the fact that my spin paintings were executed using diluted gloss paints, the saturation of the background composition was very low.  I did not have enough paint to achieve a deeper and richer colour compositions on the circular patches.  Subsequently, I have created a distinct rectangular window within my canvas. This is an obvious problem and I am faced with a disjointed and incohesive piece.

In order to solve this, I have identified a dynamic part of the background composition and isolated a section from the bottom, right hand corner.  The idea was to open this image in Photoshop and manipulate it sufficiently to develop a strong and contrasting idea for a new silk screen.  This pattern like ‘splash’ will be used  for partial overprinting of the background painting , hopefully achieving a greater sense of a holistic flow.  I will also try to pick up vibrant crimsons and Prussian blues to increase the overall energy of the piece and, therefore, its impact.

Additionally, I will need to work much more carefully and precisely on the painting itself to bring out more detail to the hands of the masseur and the feet of the model. They too flat and appear to have lost some of their form.

The Thai masseur would also benefit from a more pictorial description of her face.  However, this will happen at a later stage.

I am considering glazing the piece with a diluted solution of a medium and allowing it to dry before returning to the printing process next week. I also need more time to develop my ideas for the screen further.

Black and white proposal for a transfer onto screen.

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Dynamic section isolated from the background.

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Thai Masseur

In result of reviewing sign paintings by Hirst, I have experimented with a range of simple spin paintings.  I attached circles of unprimed canvas to an electric wheel in ceramics. I immersed myself in a child-like play pouring diluted gloss paints onto the spinning surface, regulating the speed with a foot pedal.

The next stage was concerned with arranging a suitable composition using a variety circular spin paintings.  I thought that the circular motion resembled a rotating image in a bull-eye window of a washing machine.  When I achieved an appropriate layout, I pasted the entire thing together using a solution of diluted PVA glue.

The underage was dramatic, dynamic and vibrant.  Simultaneously, it contained a diverse range of colours, textures and expressive smudges.  This created a perfect environment for the painting stage.  I focused an an ambiguous portrayal of a foot masseur from Pattaya, entrapped in a repetitive routine and bored with the activity.

There is a number of holes in the painted surface, through which, the background is visible.  I felt that this blending and effect of superimposure, enhanced an overwhelming character and feel of the composition.

The next stage of work will include bringing the image out by very gradual process of building colour on top of the surface with water soluble pastels.  Hopefully, the impasto will become sufficiently thick to increase a sensation of weight in this piece.

Although, I would like to achieve a sense of openness to interpretation, I would like create more focus on the hands and their smoothing function and symbolic meaning of, which is associated with a touch.

I am really excited to have started to explore a new possibility while extending on my current development of both: conceptual thinking and technical methodology.

Additionally, this painting is on a very large scale stretched canvas, perhaps the biggest piece I have approached since starting this project.

Dimensions:

115 X 184 cm

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Spin!

I came across the first series of spin paintings by Damien Hirst in the early 90s. I learned about this experiments, when he first started to explore a range of possibilities using this technique in 1992 and extending on alternatives by employing the idea of a stencil.

In addition to their powerful colours, patterns and textures, they were frequently composed on circular formats. I was touched by a great similarity between the look and feel of these works and my ideas concerned with recording the spinning cycle through a bullseye circular window of a washing machine.

On reflection, I came to a conclusion that his famous spin paintings were very influential in forming my new ideas for a series of images.

The spinning motion is monotonous, repetitive and echoes the nature of what I am trying to portray and question in my project.

I include a collage based on his various work below: