The Starn Twins

Mike and Doug Starn are identical twins that work collaboratively in photography, however they do not just use photography in their work but also sculpture, painting, video and installation.

 

Their most recent work;

Big Bambú

In September 2008, the Starn twins took over there Beacon studio with the construction of the ‘Big Bambú,’ this piece consists of archetecture, performance, film and photography. The artwork starts as a massive tower created from lashed together bamboo poles and brings into space representations of complexity and chaos, but then evolves through the continuous rebuilding and rethinking of the structure at all times. To me this piece represents that business of a city, the chaos of people intertwined with the rows and rows of buildings, all shapes, all sizes, that we as humans get swallowed up in.

 

“Big Bambú is connotative of an autonomous, spontaneous, self-governing, disorganised network responding to itself to better navigate the environment. “It represents me - in that I am who I was, and, I am completely different than I was when I was a little boy.” Doug Starn writes.”

 

This link shows the photographs, videos and installation of the project; http://www.starnstudio.com/

This piece has evolved since 2008 and created in several other areas, such as Venice and on the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York).

 

Looking back at their later works I came across a very interesting series of photographs named ‘Attracted to light.’ My first attraction came from the look of the photographs, as they hold a very old atmospheric quality to them, quite worn and weathered and using predominately black and grey tones which help achieve this effect. It is also very fascinating the way they compile their photographs together, in a patchwork of rectangles and squares, these shapes are not perfectly cut either, the edges are torn or have curled up giving the impression that they have been handled for years.

 

See the full gallery on Posterous

I am interested in the old photography of Manchester and the pictures I take of the city I hope to manipulate in a way that will achieve such effects.

 

Perhaps a point of interest,,,?

Last eve I somehow managed to stumble across this blog,,. It is a blog that consists of various interviews and information about current creative Manchester and its residents.

I haven't had a chance to have a proper look at it,, but from what I've seen and read it has increased my knowledge of current Manchester a little more, broadening my mind on what is going on right now throughout Manchester's fabulous creative communities.

It has also got some useful links that lead you to other "happening" Manchester sites, telling of events and creative spaces,,

 

http://manhattanchester.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

Cotton.

Look at the Past

 

11 February – 13 May  Whitworth Art Gallery

Visit the COTTON: Global Threads website...

Late winter and spring sees all the ground floor galleries at the Whitworth combining to tell a compelling story about the production, consumption and global trade in cotton. With exhibits ranging in date from the late Middle Ages to the present day, the exhibition takes in Lancashire and South Asia, the Americas and Africa and is the region's flagship exhibition outcome of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme Stories of the World.

Cotton was the world's first global commodity. At the heart of the exhibition are displays of fashion and textiles that examine India’s extensive global trade networks in cotton centuries before production shifted to Northern Europe, and the impact that cotton had on Western fashion, providing the catalyst for the Industrial Revolution. The displays also take a provocative look at cotton's 'dirty secrets' - at its human and environmental impact - and at the pivotal political and economic role it has played in establishing national independence from colonial rule.

The fashion and textile displays engage in dialogue with the work of seven contemporary artists working in a range of disciplines whose work addresses one or more of the exhibition themes. They include Yinka Shonibare MBE, Lubaina Himid, Chicago-based Anne Wilson, Malian artists Abdoulaye Konatéand Aboubakar Fofana, and Grace Ndiritu, while Liz Rideal's work illuminates the exterior of the building throughout the hours of darkness.

The exhibition also showcases the outcomes of a three-year programme of work with young people, taking the form of an interactive space for younger visitors.

 

Sohel Nishino

I thought that this work might interest some as I know maps are currently being explored. Sohei Nishino is a fine art photographer who creates ‘Diorama’ maps. He explores personal memories of various locations around the chosen city on foot, photographing hundreds of times and layering them up after to create these beautifully detailed pieces of work.

 

The above work is his interpretation of London, Tokyo and Hong Kong in his original 'Diorama Map' series. He has began to explore cities in various ways, slightly different to these. I've included his website incase anyone wishes to explore Nishino's work further.

http://www.soheinishino.com

 

Blogging - Jane McFdayen

After the talk with Jane Mcfdayen I thought it would be useful for us all to know the guidelines of how we will be marked on our blog(s) and most importantly the sort of things we should be putting on it.

Criteria;

• Did you work effectively in your team? (Are you reflecting on your teams ideas/ are you contributing?)
• What did you find out and learn? (What thoughts are going around in your mind)
• Did you do something? (What is the outcome/ the key decision points in your work must be noted - final proposal, how did you get to this)
• How did you explain it all?

The group blog is about sharing what you think and know to the other members in your group so they can help you and you can help them. With your inidividual blogs you can be more reflective about your own work and describe your individual progress.

I hope this helps.

Whitworth Gallery

I am off to the Whitworth gallery tomorrow around 2pm as there is an exhibiton called, 'Cotton: Global Threads'. Anyone else want to join?

As this is a strong theme within my project ideas, I am looking for anyone who knows of any other place/exhibitons/buildings that also have this theme. Just let me know whenever:D

Here is some info on the exhibiton at the gallery:

11 February – 13 May

Visit the COTTON: Global Threads website...

Late winter and spring sees all the ground floor galleries at the Whitworth combining to tell a compelling story about the production, consumption and global trade in cotton. With exhibits ranging in date from the late Middle Ages to the present day, the exhibition takes in Lancashire and South Asia, the Americas and Africa and is the region's flagship exhibition outcome of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme Stories of the World.

Cotton was the world's first global commodity. At the heart of the exhibition are displays of fashion and textiles that examine India’s extensive global trade networks in cotton centuries before production shifted to Northern Europe, and the impact that cotton had on Western fashion, providing the catalyst for the Industrial Revolution. The displays also take a provocative look at cotton's 'dirty secrets' - at its human and environmental impact - and at the pivotal political and economic role it has played in establishing national independence from colonial rule.

The fashion and textile displays engage in dialogue with the work of seven contemporary artists working in a range of disciplines whose work addresses one or more of the exhibition themes. They include Yinka Shonibare MBE, Lubaina Himid, Chicago-based Anne Wilson, Malian artists Abdoulaye Konatéand Aboubakar Fofana, and Grace Ndiritu, while Liz Rideal's work illuminates the exterior of the building throughout the hours of darkness.

The exhibition also showcases the outcomes of a three-year programme of work with young people, taking the form of an interactive space for younger visitors.

Very good, recent program on the British factory industry. Based in Manchester