Work In Progress

So, blog post 2 of 3.

I really do hope no one is holding their breath in between these…

Anyway, I planned to use this post to discuss where my work is heading at the moment, but since I’m in the middle of a bunch of strands regarding my practice, I apologize in advance if it all gets a bit rambly.

Before coming back to Edinburgh College, I had a planned to use the time here as an excuse to pick up some threads of work and ideas that I’ve had for a while and for one reason or another, hadn’t gotten round to.

Whilst I’ve done that, being able to be in the studio as often as I have has also afforded me the time to break down my practice somewhat and really consider the what, why and where of it all.

There has always been a driving narrative in my work, the 2D work especially, although the sculptural and instillation elements are usually a direct reaction to that.

That narrative, along with placing a relevance on the titles of the work, or more specifically having certain words/phrases in mind when making the structures I do, and how that can play into the outcome, has for some time been the thing that pushes the work forward. Where these forms exist, and how they relate to each other whilst there, and the reasons for their existence there, has always been really quite important for me.

Work In Progress – Stairwell Relief

Partially as a form of justification I suppose, but it’s really served as the way for me to fold in the socio-political aspects of my practice, and all the facets of my practice that are far less visually quantifiable.

However this residency has really challenged the way I see that part of my work. I still feel the ‘Imaginary City’ that these structures, until now, have been made with the purpose of inhabiting is still a relevant thing in my mind. I just don’t feel the need to make forms that inhabit that space as much as I once did. I feel that, for the time being at least, it’s hit its glass ceiling.

As a somewhat cathartic culling, I present a badly taken photograph of a Topographical drawing of the ‘City’ in question.

Perhaps like any other city, it’s gradually re-developed and added to only when it’s called for. Or perhaps I could take a leaf out of le Corbusier’s book and demolish it to rebuild from scratch.

Either way, I feel as though that body of work has reached its own natural conclusion, and I feel somewhat freed up to be asking new questions of myself. So whilst the work that I’ve found myself producing during the residency still very much contains a strong narrative element, it’s more fractured, in a way that allows me to deal with a wider variety of topics. I’m essentially having my cake, and wolfing it down.

Paint Sketch

I definitely feel as though the residency here has afforded me the freedom to experiment with my practice in a way that, due to a string of exhibitions since graduation two years ago, I’ve thus far been unable to.

The outcome of that is some really unexpected pieces of work, which is really exciting.

I’ve continued throughout the process, producing the drawings and models that I have always done, as a way of reacting to the images I end up with from site visits etc, but because the work is driven by a more open ended set of questions, and without such a looming deadline, I’ve been able to produce responses in a far more organic manner.

The drawings currently consist of forms that exist much more on ground level, intentionally more relatable through physical navigation, instead of relation through socio-political experience, which was the case before.

POMO Investigation Maquette

 

Overpass Model

The models have kind of splintered off into two separate lines of enquiry. Some of them started from the isolation of facets of real world structures, and growing out from that, incorporating pattern whilst continuing to use colourful facades to amplify the synthetic aspects of the work that I’m finding myself drawn to.

 

Landscape 1

Whilst some of them are a little more grounded, and seem much more comfortable used in clutches of two or three, relating to each other and sitting on flat expanses, forming these odd landscape compositions. (The above image isn’t perhaps very indicative of that, but it’s the only image on my desktop as I write this and as I’m already two days late, will have to do.)

I’ve got a few other bits and pieces I’m working on, but they are all a bit new and confusing so I’d much rather talk about them when they are a bit more formed and make more sense to me.

Meet back here on Saturday for that?

Anyway I’m going to round up by doing the obligatory internet whoring of myself by linking to my Tumblr, Instagram, Blog etc, as I feel that would probably get my points across infinitely better than the 800 word I’ve just typed up can.

http://nnodzak.tumblr.com/

http://instagram.com/n_0_d

http://nnodzak.blogspot.co.uk/

Catch Up…

So, as I’m sure will come as no surprise to anyone at all familiar with me, my ‘Blog Post A Week’ has fallen behind somewhat.

In my defence however, it’s because I’ve been enjoying the actual residency so much. Anyway I’m gonna treat this as a wee catch up post, so I’ll be jumping about a little bit…

 

So firstly I’d like to acknowledge how involved I’ve been allowed to be during my time here at Edinburgh College. Before I started, my intention, if I’m being completely honest, was to be in the studio as much as humanly possible, and whilst I’ve definitely been able to do that, I’ve found myself far more interested in the other aspects of the residency than I expected to be.

I’ve been given the chance to sit in on the group crits, which I spoke about in my previous post, which is still something I’m finding immensely rewarding. Having only been out of Art College for two years, it’s really exciting to be involved in the process from a slightly different perspective than I’m used to.

It will also be really exciting to go to the assorted degree shows in three years time and see how this years HND 2′s practice has evolved. I obviously have very little basis of comparison, but it appears to be a really strong year so it’ll be nice to see how the work develop.

 

Also in the past two weeks, I’ve given a few talks, both to the BTEC crowd as well as the HND students, and would like to thank the students who came along for making it not only an enjoyable experience, but also for the questions that were asked. I was genuinely impressed by the level of engagement from everyone who came along.

Also special thanks to the staff, Collette and Neil Russell on BTEC, and Alan and Jennie on HND, who despite having known me for almost 8 years, made me feel suitably special on both occasions.

I’m acutely aware that this is all starting to sound like one of those awful fluff interviews that an ensemble cast does before a movie comes out where they harp on about how ‘special an experience it was’ and how ‘they had such fun it felt like a big family’, but it’s honestly been an incredibly enjoyable and use full residency so far.

The talks only served to highlight that. Whilst they are obviously for the students benefit, I feel I probably got as much, if not more from them. Both were given in the middle of ‘Application Season’, so it was really nice to sit down in front of a group of people and go over my practice in a more or less chronological order and see the varying degrees of development.

I’m going to round up for now as I wouldn’t expect anyone to read any more of my havering in one sitting. However in border to make up for my terrible Blogging attendance recently, I plan on doing another tomorrow, and a third on Bank Holiday Monday. Tomorrows will be on the work I’m producing for the residency and where it’s going, and Mondays will be mainly on the project I’m doing with the HND students.

 

See you all again tomorrow.

Crit bit…

So the exhibition I have been making work for since the beginning of my AIRetc… residency is officially open.

I’m particularly excited by this as it means I can now fully throw myself into the residency and start getting into what attracted me to it in the first place. Namely working on a new set of works, but also getting involved with the student’s practice and seeing what everyone else is up to.

To that end, I can honestly say that this week has been the most enjoyable so far.

I was given the opportunity to sit in on both HND1 and HND2′s crits over the past few days, as well as getting to know some of the BTEC National Diploma students a little better.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the crits if I’m honest, for the most part this was to be my first experience of everyone’s work over both years, but I was left feeling genuinely quite inspired. That level of engaged conversation and back and forth conversation is, from my experience, the thing that recent graduates often say they miss most, being in a group that meets up semi regularly to discuss where they’re at, get other opinions and fresh perspectives, or just to ‘get their house in order’ is so valuable.

From a purely selfish perspective, I’ve found its come along at the perfect time, everyone else’s enthusiasm has definitely helped combat the usual ‘post exhibition creative slump’ I usually find myself in. After the crits this week I’m chomping at the bit to get into the studio on Monday morning and take advantage of the relative quiet the Easter break’ll bring.

All that and a free slap up lunch on Friday with Gregor Morrison and the AIRetc… team. All in all, as pretty good week I think.

Anyway, back to the art…

I’m still working on developing this new set of drawings, and am also making a few small scale mix media models which, all going to plan, will have taken more shape by the end of the Easter break.

My initial intention for the residency was to make a body of work that was all connected, for all the structures I produce, be it drawing or sculpture, to be from the same ‘place’, but it’s becoming apparent that that’s not quite the case. I’ll try and elaborate a bit over the next few weeks but it’s still early days…

Hopefully by the time everyone is back from Easter, there will be continued good news in regards to Art College places and offers etc, but until then, I’ll continue to keep all the digits crossed and hoping the best for everyone.

Work in Progress

So I’ve already fallen behind on my intended weekly post, I’ve been installing the previously mentioned work at Talbot Rice all last week and the start of this one.

The finish line is within touching distance though, so I’ll soon be able to get back in to the studio and pick up where I left off, which I’m thoroughly looking forward to.

I’ve just started a few new drawings, based on ideas I’ve had for a while and, so far at least, they seem to be shaping up quite nicely, I’ll post some images when they’re a little further forward, hopefully next week.

Also, depending on how much I’m getting done, I might try and post twice weekly for a while, I’m feeling a little guilty that I’ve been resident for a little over five weeks  now and this is only post number 2.

Hope all the HND 2 folks are enjoying Berlin.

Neil Nodzak

Afternoon all,

I figured it was about time that I got round to putting up my first official AIR ETC blog post.

I intend to use my time here at Edinburgh College to develop a new body of work based on an idea I’ve had kicking around for a while now, but until I can start on that I’ve had to spend the first few weeks of the residency making a piece for a separate exhibition.

So what I would like to be a very orderly, tidy, well kept studio is something of a bomb site at the moment, but not for much longer.

I intend on putting up a weekly post, most likely on a Friday or Saturday from here on…

AIRetc… welcomes Neil Nodzak

    

  

It gives us great pleasure to welcome Neil Nodzak to the AIRetc… programme. Neil graduated from the HND in Public Art (HND Contemporary Art Practice as is) in 2008 having previously completed the Btec Foundation course all the way back in the old campus.

In 2011 Neil gained his 1^st Class degree in Fine Art from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art at the University of Dundee.

During his studies Neil fostered a strong sculptural practice in response to his interest in modernism and architecture. Since graduating he has continued to develop his practice having been awarded a free studio space, solo exhibition and a graduate place on the organising committee at the Tin Roof studios in Dundee.

As well as the Tin Roof award Neil was also selected for New Contemporaries at the Royal Scottish Academy and Generator Projects annual graduate show

“They Had 4 Years” where he was one of only 3 artists selected from all the Fine Art graduations show in Scotland.

Next month Neil will show a new work at the Talbot Rice Gallery in Edinburgh, details to follow.

The work is currently being constructed in the AIRetc… studio at Edinburgh College Granton and will soon be moved to the gallery ready for the opening of the exhibition on the 16^th March.

On completing this work Neil intends to develop a new body of work for exhibition in the summer.

Neil will be making regular posts on the blog during his residency.

http://nnodzak.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Here today and back tomorrow…..

A fond farewelcome.

It is never easy saying goodbye and here at AIRetc… we find it particularly difficult to cut the ties with the wonderful artists who occupy our studio and do fantastic work with our colleagues and students. It is so difficult in fact that we just can’t cut the ties that bind, not permanently at least.

Since the AIRetc… project began all the participants have come back to work with us in some capacity or another, including classroom support to assist in their own research and providing technical support during exhibition installs. This time however our 2 most recent AIR artists, Gregor Morrison, whose last day as AIR resident was just 2 days ago and Natalie Wilson (Feb12 – June 12) will be joining the Art & Design delivery team to provide essential cover.

It is indicative of the quality of AIRetc… participants and the experience they bring and develop that when the department needed cover we have been able to turn to Gregor and Natalie who will be working with student groups from across the various Btec Art & Design courses.

Although Gregor will be with us for a short while longer it is in a new capacity his time as Artist in Residence is over and we therefore wish to express our gratitude to him for the time he spent as Telford Colleges last and Edinburgh Colleges first ever AIR. As you can see from the posts below Gregor has used his time with us to develop and produce a new body of work. We hope to announce news of an exhibition of the new work very soon. Gregor has also been instrumental in the successful setting up of the colleges new Art & Design print resource.

So, thank you Gregor and see you tomorrow!