KARST experience/reflection

Working with Ben Borthwick at KARST was a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding experience. Having very few exhibitions under my belt, it was great to be able to not only gain some knowledge of a lateral approach to unconventional presentation but also to have the chance to show my new work at KARST rather than looking at it in my shed studio or hanging on my bedroom walls.

As soon as I walked into the KARST building, I immediately could see the gallery space which just opened up the closer I got. Once inside I immediately felt grounded and welcomed to a space to explore and have fun in.

After a quick tour and health and safety talk Ben introduced himself and made us feel calm and welcome. We quickly began to bring our work in and randomly placed it anywhere to begin with. After Bens initial calm and welcoming approach, he put us all on the spot, which was slightly uncomfortable but did actually make us think about how to summarise our work quickly and to the rest of the group. Ben called it Pecha Kucha, which is a term used to describe 4 or 5 things with 20 seconds each. My 5 subjects were: background, material choice, subject, rationale and connections.

Once we had all Pecha Kucha’d we decided to start with Hanging Marks work as it was the largest. I worked with Mark and made a few suggestions, as I did with most the group. The space quickly started to look more exhibition like. Works got put up, looked at, taken down, moved, and a careful and methodical consideration was always at the core.

Bens laid back and empathetic approach to everyone’s needs, concerns and thoughts was a great help to not only thinking outside the box but to encouraging us to really think for ourselves and make careful considerations. After Ben had helped me think about placement we decided that the self portrait didn't fit with the rest of the pieces so I left it out.

Once completed, the show looked amazing, although I would have liked to have seen statements, work titles and descriptions next to the works.

KARST was a great finish to an awesome year. I have really enjoyed the journey so far. I feel I have a long way to go but am really starting to think carefully about materials, rationale and how everything connects. I am very much looking forward to the rest of the course.

I did manage to see the MA graduate show which was quite professional looking and was a great insight into what is to come. Well done everybody, and also a big thankyou to Anya, Mark, Josie, Sinta and Beth.

My Final pieces at the show:

Preparation: