Venice Fellowship - Day 18 (Critique)

Half-way Critique
Today we had our mid-way crit for the research project. The other fellows and I took it in turns doing introductions and brief summaries of our research projects, and I was taking notes through this and as James spoke to us a little about the history of Venice. As well as reflections on my work, in this post I will also be using it as a way to consolidate my notes, so there will be a mixture of quotes and thoughts and ideas happening here.

What does is mean to Curate an event on this scale (such as the Biennale)? What does it give to us?

• "... if you're stateless, then you're not represented..." (Gustavo). In reference to the fact that it is countries already deeply embedded in the history of the Biennale, or participants who can afford to pay the rent. I thought this was an interesting comment on social groups and the power in representation, and how many voices go unheard in these events.
• It has been used as a way of "legitimising opinions and voices of others". 

Interesting Moments, Quotes and Ideas

• Watermark by Joseph Brodsky. Book recommendation for Phuong-Tram. Written by a man who was exiled from Russia and never felt at home in the USA, and only found himself feeling close to at home in Venice during winter. Written shortly before his death. 'A city of mirrors'. 
• Phuong-Tram. Fog so thick --> "... if all the particles of water could be used to carry a body". A beautiful way of describing fog. Makes me consider water as a way of separating layers / Chiaroscuro as Tintoretto used it in his paintings. Could this be used as a reference point for my use of resin in painting?
• Pacazzo 10. The Venetian secret service. "...think of the Spanish Inquisition and times it by 3". Interesting that the Republic, a place of refuge, was still under fear of the power of the ruling class.
• "...a truly democratic space is one that allows confrontation ... if you aren't doing that, then someone isn't being listened to..." - Claire. Interesting thing to meditate on if I go back to the Palazzo Ducale.
• "...I feel trapped and overstimulated. This is like Disneyland." - Katy on Venice.
• "... (Architecture) connects to everything ... ideas to the forms of society ... engaging with what it means to be a citizen."
• "... Dictatorships always want to be involved in cultural events."
• "This city makes no sense without its history... this place was a refugee camp." 
• Riva Alto - the highest point in Venice (Rialto). 
• Oligarchy. Ruled by the aristocracy.
• Synography. This city is an exhibition.
• It's all a facade. The faces of the buildings on the Grand Canal are just that, facades. They become brick and plaster. This city is an expression of wealth and power and status.

My Own Work - Relevant Ideas, Responses, Recommendations

• Portrait of memory, stress, injustice, words, voices. A portrait of a community.
• Perpetrator vs victim? 
• Corruption?
• Souvenir - Susan Sontag (Recommendations from Katy). 
• Collecting.
• Collograph - collecting objects to print with. 
• Painting and Drawing - collecting imagery, words, thoughts, ideas to use later.
• Find out the visitor numbers. Use in painting.

It was an incredibly beneficial meeting for me, and I feel that although it hasn't changed much of my project, it did give me a focus on what I'm doing. My own thoughts and themes at the back of my mind are secondary to my process, and James helped me to recognise that my practice is collecting or a pallimpsest of thought. Collographs are literal collections of objects, my paintings a collection of thoughts and marks. This has helped me to consolidate my practice as well as this project.