Wednesday 30th November
After doing some work in the library on my “Practice in Context” I then went into the studio and worked a little on the polystyrene bullet mould. Simon Lewandowski gave me some information on a Canadian Artist Brian Jungen who works with Nike trainers, totem poles and base ball bats. I had a tutorial with Chris Evans at 11.20, it wasn’t entirely useful. He liked the bullets but was questioning the fact that I had put a full stop behind the work; he also drew a comparison between mine and Simon Starlings process. I had not previously, consciously made the connection. But once I had been reminded of his existence I remembered looking at his work over the summer and had realised its subconscious effect on my thought process. I need to keep better notes.

Chris argued that he liked to be left wondering about art, asking questions and not being able to get it. That wasn’t necessarily the point behind the bullets I argued, if they are to mean anything then they must be accessible to anyone yet still be an interesting concept in their manufacture and arrangement. Their is no point in trying to ask an important questions of the viewer if 99% of the viewers don’t even understand the questions. I agreed with Chris on certain things but not concerning the recasting of the metal found in Verdun.

Chris commented on the ply bullets and was impressed that I had produced them by hand, without the aid of a lath. He said they were great as studies but did not really go further than this, I totally agreed. The baseball bats caught his eye but they are not far enough on to be of great interest yet. I need to pick out my text and design a rack for them to be displayed upon.

I spent the afternoon working on some personal projects. A blown up photo of the aftermath of Weatherby races for Alex’s new house and James Birthday card (I have turned him into James Bond)
Hammam was going through his slides for his Slade application and he invited me and Dave to look. I then went home followed by work, which was shit.

On the way home I stopped off at Alexs to help him sort out his broken shower. Duncan and Bob (Alex’s ex -house mates) were there, as Alex had been ill. We went to B&Q then Duncan tried to fit the shower. Back to B&Q to replace a broken part before back to Alex’s and then back home for a butty followed by bed.