JOHN COPLANS

I'm completely intrigued by the way the human body can be used to communicate and provoke thoughts and feelings. I'm fascinated by the human form and the impact of movements. Coplans' images are very provoking and show the male body in all its glory! A way in which we don't usually see the body unless in an intimate situation. Not only are the textures and beauty of his skin provoking but also his expression and form! Each of his images are unique and hold fantastic emotion and tension. My favourite of Coplans images are the close ups he has taken of the hand which show an extreme variety of expression and leave the viewer almost depicting the meaning behind the form. 

FACE STUDY

  

 

 

 

 

I started off taking photographs of the female face continuously changing expression. The variety of movements and shapes the face is capable of interested me. The simplest movements can change the whole mood and appearance of a person. Something about these movements and shapes intrigued me and lead me to focusing on the mouth. I feel it is the mouth which determines the movements from the rest of the face. There is a subtle delicateness about the way the bottom and upper lips connect, creating various shapes through separation and connection.

THE BODY

I've started off looking at different ways of communicating without the use of spoken words. At the minute the idea of using the body (movements & positions) and text (subtitles & description) are my main interests. Saying this, i firstly want to explore the broad range of aspects relating to this theme before deciding which one to pursue!

Gestures is a typical starting point but the face expression and hand actions are the most common things people look at when analyzing/observing a persons mood and character! Here are a few images which got me going...

  

THE BODY

I've started off looking at different ways of communicating without the use of spoken words. At the minute the idea of using the body (movements & positions) and text (subtitles & description) are my main interests. Saying this, i firstly want to explore the broad range of aspects relating to this theme before deciding which one to pursue! 

Gestures is a typical starting point but face expression and hand actions are the most common things people look at when analyzing/observing a persons mood and character! Here are a few images which got me going...

SILENCE

''A small silence came between us, 

as precise as a picture hanging on a wall''

WHO AM I?

‘‘..If we relate this to ideas of self it becomes difficult to establish distinction between what is ‘me’ and what is not. My experience of me is largely an inner experience (thoughts, feelings, sensations). My external appearance does not really reflect my inner experience…a mask that conceals my inner self. When I look at myself in the mirror, my external appearance seems to be me but when I consider my ‘inside’ the way I look seems more to do with the external world. Where is the boundary between me and the outside world? I am a physical and psychological being that I identify as myself…but my ability to define myself in absolute terms will always fail... ’’

THE FUTURE!

So iv'e had my head stuck in my sketchbook the past few weeks, searching for that 'great idea' to take my work to the next level! 

In some ways this semester is a continuation of my interest in the human condition, although this time moving away for the factual approach and seeing the body in a more expressive light. 


I am keen to explore and discover ways in which the human body is capable of non-verbal communication and having power over the way in which we conduct ourselves. A strong interest of mine in relation to this is Art Therapy, as this particular practice focuses on ways in which a story or situation can be visualised and depicted without the use of spoken words. At the minute I intend to explore this theme through the use of photography, meanwhile also considering video, projection and performance. I’m also keen to further explore the use of ‘a space’ as I am still interested in the interaction between audience and space, although completely open to where this will take me. 

THE PAST, THE PRESENT & ....

I've started to reflect on various aspects of my time spent studying P.E.M., my interests, what has influenced my work, my struggles, my successes, and so on!

Here are some of my initial artistic influences ...

The Most dominant themes i initially explored where voyeurism, memory, change and growth. Although i enjoyed researching artists and done so pretty easily, i struggled when it came to developing my own work. It was VERY frustrating!! 

I decided enough was enough. Getting tired of merely researching for the sake of it i decided to put my research to good use and actually give it a purpose!! By applying processes and methods used by other artists to my own work, i began to develop and resolve my ideas that little bit better...Finally!!

Artist Influencing my work at this stage where...

Sophie Calle

David Sherry

Willie Dorner

Abramovic and Ulay

I've always been interested and intrigued by people, which has turned into some kind of curiosity, making me want to look deeper under the surface of human behavior.Last semester my focus was to explore the expectations of interaction and push the boundaries of human behaviour, particularly focusing on the idea of personal space. I started wondering what it would be like if I forced encounters by pushing social boundaries and planting the idea to hopefully change society's perception of interaction or at least make them question it. Whilst working on my project, I took on the general public by testing their tolerance of myself and the everyday stranger, focusing mainly on body language and reactions.

Here is a few of my Developments/resolved outcomes...

(Book Page layout)

(Film Projection)

(Layered Photography)

(Installation)

(Installation)

(Photographs)

(Constellations)