Stephen Moberly - Defining Practices

Self portrait (head removed) (2012) and Relic of middle child’s hand (2011) wire, homemade playdough, wax, marbles, acrylic paint, dead foliage, wood, homemade playdough (flour, wax, water, p.v.a., talk, baby milk), wine gum and staples.

This piece was inspired by St. Theresa’s arm. A 16^th century relic which was cut off when her body was exhumed and put on display in a glass case for pilgrims to pay homage to. My interpretation refers to the parent-child relationship and in particular the misguided, overcompensation in face of uncontrollable external influences that can, however well intended, lead to more harm than good.

Self portrait (head removed) and Relic of middle child's hand

Self portrait (head removed) and Relic of middle child's hand

Simon Gamble - Defining Practices

Untitled (2012) Heat-sensitive till roll

All through our lives we own a huge range of plastic objects, often quite fleetingly. This work is my personal museum of plastic; every plastic object that I can remember owning, from early childhood to the present day. When I am dead many of these objects will still exist, in landfills, in lofts and in charity shops. The list is recorded on till roll scratched with a plastic tip, an ephemeral medium that will fade to nothing, just as the connection between the objects fades. Objects that were once connected and related, once again become free in space and time.

Untitled

Detail of Untitled

Monica Bonomo - Defining Practices

Plastic Movement (2012) Plastic Straws

Repetitive performative acts shape the body engaging it in a plastic dance. As well as plastics our bodies are docile, versatile and surprisingly fragile.

In “Plastic Movement” the body and the plastics blend as an allegory of the social construction of the body in contemporary society.

The dress worn in Plastic Movement

Detail of the dress

Defining Practices

Under the guidance of Julia Flatman, Senior Associate Lecturer, School of Visual Arts, and as part of their unit: Defining practice 1, Level 4 Fine Art Students were given the opportunity to develop work in response to MoDiP.

The learning outcomes of the unit include being able to:

• demonstrate an enhanced understanding of the nature and character of fine art;
• show awareness of the relationship between practice and context;
• apply technical knowledge and skills in the realisation, documentation and presentation of work.

Each student responded in his or her own way but four themes emerged:

• the meaning of collecting and collections;
• the re-contextualisation implicit in any museum display;
• the values associated with artefacts in museums;
• plastics, MoDiP’s focus.

The works by the students can currently be viewed in the library cases and will be on display until the end of the summer.  They can also be seen in the following blog posts.

The students' exhibition.

Susan Lambert (Head of MoDiP)

Olympics

We are working hard towards our Plastics for Gold exhibition.  We have some fabulous objects to go on display including a canoe paddle, stadium seat and some rowing pogies.

One sport which will be featured in the display is track cycling, to get you in the mood I wanted to share this fantastic short film 'Boy'.

BOY,' written by British Airways Great Britons winner Prasanna Puwanarajah is a moving short film starring actor Timothy Spall and was inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Prasanna won over Richard E. Grant and the panel of judges on the BA Great Britons programme with his clear, original and moving script. The film, now complete, will also be show at our pop up event Flight BA2012 and onboard BA flights in the run up to the London 2012 Games.

 

Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)

What can this be?

MoDiP has the kind of collection that you may think you are very familiar with. We have objects which we all use every day, and some pieces which are more unusual.

By looking at this distorted image are you able to guess what the object is? What do you think it could be used for?

Post your answer in the comments below or find out more about the object have a look at the MoDiP catalogue.

Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)

Do you know what this is?

MoDiP has the kind of collection that you may think you are very familiar with. We have objects which we all use every day, and some pieces which are more unusual.

By looking at this distorted image are you able to guess what the object is? What do you think it could be used for?

Post your answer in the comments below or find out more about the object have a look at the MoDiP catalogue.

Louise Dennis (Assistant Curator)