Jackie Bell – final piece

Here is the final result of my Exchange Project:

Title:

‘Life & Scythe’

       Front of ring

            Back of ring

Jackie Bell – end point statement

After a few days considering measurements and how to piece this all together, I have finally decided on this:

• A three-finger ring, that can be worn as a ring, or held up the eye and can be looked into.
• it  features a small tunnel-like ring with a small motif of a grim reaper (death representation) soldered at the end of it. 
• Juxtapostioned next to it is a tree, representing life (tree of life), it has a cleaner finish than the rest of the piece, resembling the ‘glow of life’, in comparison to death, overlapping right next to it.
• This is a portrayal of the close link that is often seen between life and death.
• The design of the small tunnel with the grim reaper at the end is also used to symbolise the text, as quoted by the character Roy Batty, from the film Blade Runner (1982),

“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. [pause] Time to die.”

• I interpreted this through the tunnel, as a way of physically and metaphorically representing the idea of ‘seeing things’, the grim reaper at the end of the tunnel/eyepiece is death and therefore the viewer is looking past death, looking at death, as well as exploring grief and the sense of losing things.
• The ‘tree of life’ is also there, in the background of death, though also in close proximity at the same time.
• The material brass is used as it is known for tarnishing easily (much like the material I received – it appears to be breaking down quickly), as well as embodying the sense of life and the end of things, ‘losing life’s spark’ , so to speak.
• Black patina and metal paint is used to further represent this tarnished motif as well as incorporating a metaphorical expression of the decaying material.

Overall, I found that this was an interesting project that allowed me to explore various concepts and materials without strict limitations, even though I did end up creating my final piece with the seemingly traditional material of metal.

I am content with the end result, and I quite enjoyed investigating and using symbolism as as strong reference points in my work. At first I was worried about how I would incorporate my (decaying) material, but after a bit of research and exploration I think I came to an interesting conclusion!

Jackie Bell mid-point statement

So after looking at my material and text once again, and some further brainstorming, I have decided to make a three-finger ring.

I’m working with themes of:

•  life + death, juxtapositioned alongside each other
• as mentioned in my received text, ‘seeing things’, therefore I’m going to explore seeing through things, physically and metaphorically
• losing things, people. grieving, as also mentioned in my text “All those moments will be lost in time… Time to die” – [This line can be attributed to David Peoples (screen writer) and Rutger Hauer (actor) it was said by the character Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) as he dies]

As my material (some sort of wire netting/fly screen I think), is quite brittle, and a dirty old colour, I am also using it as a main theme, through the use of black, dirty colours, and that every time I go to open it, it breaks apart right in my hands.

To bring my final piece together, I would like to use brass as the main material (known for losing its polish quite quickly), as well as using the natural colouring that occurs after soldering such a material.

Using a combination of my received material and text, I would like to create a piece that is:

• Dirty colouring, even old in appearance.
• Metaphorically resembling colours usually associated with death + grief (black, dark solid colours)
• using material known to tarnish easily
• But also include a polished part, representing life.

Here is a draft sketch I drew of the final piece I would like to create

Jackie Bell material received from Christine Imlay-McLean

Jackie Bell beginning statement

When I first received the material, which I think may be part of a flyscreen or some sort of metal netting, and my text (a quote from the movie Blade Runner [1982] ):

Tanhauser Gate: From the film Blade Runner (1982). The film was derived from the book “When Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” by Philip K Dick. (1968). Although this text was not part of the original book.

This line can be attributed to David Peoples (screen writer) and Rutger Hauer (actor) it was said by the character Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) as he dies.

 “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. [pause] Time to die.”

devices normally used for seeing things popped into my mind.

The text has also allowed a wide range of ideas to be explored, though there are some limitations through the material, as it is difficult to handle without it falling apart, but I think it could be replicated for use within the project.

So with this in mind , I’m going to create some sort of object that can be used to see with, and perhaps in the shape of some sort of talisman referencing death, the end of cycles, etc.

text – Jacqueline Bell, from Kate Blake

Tanhauser Gate: From the film Blade Runner (1982). The film was derived from the book “When Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” by Philip K Dick. (1968). Although this text was not part of the original book.

This line can be attributed to David Peoples (screen writer) and Rutger Hauer (actor) it was said by the character Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) as he dies.

“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. [pause] Time to die.”