Artist
Statement:
Project:
(Mt Imperial), Exploration into the asthetics of a industrial Landscape
I
initially concentrated the study within the area of St Austell and just
on the fringes of the china clay quarrying industry in Cornwall.
The study entailed photographing the affects the industry has on small
communities, the dominants of the constructed landscape and the existing
natural habitat. Using a disused, pre-modernisation tip-heap ( Mt Imperial),
which dominates the small community, as a symbol for the industry I explored
relationships between personal constructed space juxtaposed against the
backdrop of Mt Imperial. Once these relationships were established i was
able to explore my own personal affiliations and observations within the
imagery, an aspect I wished to explore in great detail. Through research
into other artist I was able to intergrate similar techniques that were
used into my own work, for example, I drew a lot of inspiration from the
work of Japanese artist Hokusia's 36 views of Mt Fuji. Using the device
Hokusia used to lead the eye back to Mt Fuji I incorporated this into
illustrating my own personal path and direction in relation to the tip
heap Mt Imperial. The area created for me a feeling of overwhelming dominance
and beauty, all created from the destruction of the landscape.The
paradox enabled me to explore and produce images that illustrated the
harmonious relationships constructed over time between industry, the community
and the landscape.
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