Participatory Practice - The Anonymous

Even though I was very happy with the outcome of the sessions I was unsure on how I would develop this participatory practice. I read an article on Claire Bishop – ‘the Social Turn’, stating that participatory art emphasis process over product and that it tends not to produce good art outcomes/objects, as well as it only having value for those who actually take part in the event. I felt like she was trying to say the art doesn’t last and is no longer very meaningful to anyone else.
I feel the participation I had with the certain individuals who would like to stay anonymous to the viewer, reflects what Bishop is saying within ‘The Social Turn’. I do not feel the pieces of art created in the therapy setting are aesthetically pleasing as I did not direct the individuals on what to produce, it was purely up to them how they expressed themselves.

As I am extremely interested in the process I have with the individuals within my work, but also like to create something which can engage with another audience at the end of it, I wanted to produce another experiment which would involve the same individuals I had been working with but this time in more of a visual way that others could relate to.

 

As I felt the anonymous message sent forward were very powerful and should be used in some way, I started to think about how I could create pieces of art work with them. I began to think what reminds me of being anonymous – I instantly thought of a mask as it hides any emotion and identity of oneself.
I had an idea to project these powerful messages onto a mask which the individuals I have been working with and whom want to stay anonymous to the viewer could wear and could then be photographed.

I produced four photoshoots, three of the individuals I had previously worked with and another women who got in touch and wanted to participate in my work. I experimented with different backdrops, white and black sheets. White revealing all of the personal comment and the person being a part of the story, looking as though their head was coming out of it, and black to only capture the mask with some of the words from the message projected on it.
Both of which worked extremely well and edited on photoshop for a higher contrast.

Here are some of the final photographs taken of the Individuals which have been edited on photshop:
(Inspired by Jenny Holzer's work)

When I read this survey, I instantly thought of when we had our family pet put down, Molly or moon dance as we used to call her. It's amazing how attached you can become to a dog, I grew up with her from the age of 3 and she was as valued as any other member of the family. She wasn't that old when we found out she had a tumour, after months of the vet telling us it wasn't anything serious, we went for a second opinion and were told she would have to be put down within the next few days. I remember saying goodbye to her and it was heart-wrenchingly horrible. The worst thing I have ever had to do. I have experienced loosing family members before, including my Grandparents but it was different when my dog was put down because unlike before, I knew when I said goodbye it was for the last time. I think the most emotional and hardest part of loosing Molly was the feeling of not having a dog around the house. It seemed lonely without her there, as I am sure anyone who has lost a well-loved pet would tell you. I remember seeing my brother cry, and my dad cry, and I have only seen my dad cry on one other occasion, when my Grandma died. I suppose, selfishly we overcame the lonely feeling around the house by getting a puppy, but we never forgot our lovely Molly. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind and putting her to sleep stopped her from pain and suffering which she certainly didn’t deserve.

I have felt sad for a while because people pick on me and always make nasty comments about me I at first found it hard to deal with well I still some of the time do but I am learning to ignore these people as in time they will get bored and then leave me alone.

Lately I have been feeling very anxious and down about a certain event that is happening in my life. Having to undergo tests and Waiting 3 months to find out results is very stressful as I find when I am by myself all I can do it think about it and cry about how frustrating it is not able to fully plan a future I have always dreamed of! This has been happening for a while now and at first I pushed away anyone who tried to talk to me I just wanted to be by myself for some reason I felt if hiding away from the problem it would make everything better however it didn't it's just made it worst I have started to open up about it now and talk to my close friends & boyfriend about it and this has helped I still have bad days but they seem to not be as regular now! By talking to people about my feelings has helped but I still feel very anxious of the test results.

When I broke up with my boyfriend was probably one of the most emotional times in my life. All I did was cry for weeks, didn't want to go out or socialise. I didn't quite understand how one person could make such an impact on my life and I was so upset that I had lost my best friend felt empty and alone even though I had all my friends and family for support even now a year later I still get days where I’ll cry for no reason or watch something that will make me emotional

 

 

 

 

 

I feel these photoshoots work extremely well as my audience are still participating in part of the process but are also involved in an aesthetically pleasing outcome which another audience can engage with.