capitalism

Studio Notes /  by Justin Harrison

Little nothings - in the studio and I’m making more quick pieces, they don’t feel deep but maybe that’s ok. What they can lead to is more interesting. I do worry that I’m not landing on any one pursuit. I still like to surround myself with materials, my desk is littered with bits of wood leather and copper piping.

I cut my finger magnificently and there is a fair bit of blood. I curse a lot, not because it hurts, but because it’s gonna slow me down.

These pieces confuse me, they come from me and there are qualities about them that I like, but I’m not often sure why.  I want to draw and yet I end up making  the physical sketches. I think about Matthew Barney and how his work moves between sketches and sculpture. Is this a root that my work also takes? How dp I find the equilibrium between the two.

What is my work about?

Being set apart? Margins?

What about the photography and prose?

I do notice the motif of reclaimed materials, it’s becoming a stronger preference, the motive I suspect is primarily financial, but also a rejection of capitalism and a concern for the environment, I am mindful of my presence. The more I research capitalsim the more objectionable it becomes.

In addition the history to the materials helps me to construct the work. This came up before in Jericho where the provenance mattered - even if it was just to me and definitely influenced the work.

 

Pop up show - Carton Exhibition Space, Catford, London /  by Justin Harrison

I forgot. It’s such a rooky mistake as well. Forgot to take proper photographs of the pop up show. I hope I can grab some images off other folxs but for now I will have to post what I have.

I got to show 3 drawings. Which to my surprise was really good. I was unsure about them and initially felt very self conscious. But discovered that actually I don’t suck and my work is ok and interesting to other people. It sounds silly now, but I realise that showing whatever I am doing is important.

It was surprisingly good to show this time around, a more low key and intimate venue but somehow I preferred it. Showing at Trinity Buoy Wharf was really good too, but I like the simplicity and positioning more of the Carton Space.

It’s a continuing question I am being challenged by - Who is my intended audience? It’s been exacerbated by showing in these two differing spaces. I dream about escaping the current social and economically driven constraints we live in. I may sound naive, but capitalism has been and is a growing concern. Having read a little around Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein, and seeing the effects I am increasingly challenged. Especially by people close to me. I am being asked - if I object to the dominant capitalist culture around me, how is that reflected in the work I make, how I make it and how I sell it?

If I want to use my voice, then how and where is that authenitically and effectively done? Whilst maintaining an awareness of my posionality, and not falling prey to common channels that ultimately feed back into the same old canals.

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On another note - I am unsure I will make any more of these drawings as I am unsure where I want to go with them. However I don know I love drawing, its a primary language, a conduit to and from my preconscious. I need to make more draw more - work from notions as well as ideas.