Seat Fading
This is my own photography of the fading of underground seats.
I'll be portraying the fading of underground seats in various different ways through sampling.
Denim: Indigo Dye
There are various ways in which different cultures produce the dye for example in India, the dye is extracted from etc add
in Japan etc add pics and explanation from a5 sketchbook
Denim: Indigo Dye
Film Still: Blue Alchemy, Stories of Indigo by Mary Lance, New Deal Films, 2011
This documentary helped me to understand the past of the colour of indigo that has been most used in denim jeans.
I was really interested in the relationship between the making-process of the colour indigo and the people who make it.
The skill travels from generation to generation in various different cultures around the world and I want to shine a light on their hard work as they are often forgotten in contemporary Western society.
For my project, I want to portray the same inspiring and spiritual process by combining it with my travelling on the underground as the blue from the underground seats is also indigo.
Movement of Underground
On the underground, there are extending sections that separate the carriages and allows the train to move in a smoother manner. I'm always very intrigued by the way their movement.
I'm going to portray it through collage and drawing. I'll also want to compare the extension and compression of the pannels to reflected and moving light. (The fluorescent lights on the underground that follow the slithering flow of the journey.)
Reflected Light
Book: Olafur Eliasson, Your Lighthouse
Olafur Eliasson - 1m³ of Light, 1999
Eliasson studies light in various ways, in this piece, the 24 lamps are arranged so that the light they emit define a space of one cubic meter.
Eliasson's use of negative space within his work is something that is really interesting to me. The room is initially filled with fog and then the light are lit so that one can see it. It creates this very contrasting ambience as fog is usually used to conceal information and light is used to expose.
In this piece, the fog and light work in unison to veil and unveil nothing but the viewer's thoughts as the lamps surrounding the 1m³ of light is empty.
Reflected Light
I recently visited the "Other Spaces" exhibition, which was presented at The Store X in 180 The Strand in London, in collaboration with Fondation Cartier Pour L’art Contemporain.
The installation Vanishing Point, inspired by renaissance drawings by Leon Battista and Leonardo Da Vinci is extremely intriguing to me due to its immersive laser work that uses perspective as a way to reshape and redefine space.
The accompanying music/sound by Mira Calix also helps to prolong the sensation that you are in a different era and space. Similarly, I find myself immersed in the same feeling of wholeness when I daydream on the underground by myself.
Similarly to the underground, the beam of white light that is projected onto the room in Vanishing Point resembles the flashlights on the first carriage of the underground and its lasers sometimes construct fine symetrical half-circles that resemble the tunnel/platform.
Emilia Cocking
Emilia Cocking, On Diversion, 2018
2nd set of photographs: https://emiliacocking.com/ondiversion.html
On the book "Seats of London" Martin mentions the project "On Diversion" by Emilia Cocking, which deals with still life objects taken from trips on the bus that after she manipulates with them, resemble the prints from the Bus Moquettes.
On her website, Cocking writes: "I collected items from each journey that I felt represented the textile patterns specific to that bus service. I’d then treat each item as a building block, with its own significance and origin, towards a final composition greater than the sum of its parts. The result is a manifestation of my bus hopping; visual connections formed in memory which helped paint a living, breathing picture of home.
subwayhands + bagdogs
Some time ago, I photographed my dog on my mother's lap, not knowing I would use this photo for a future project.
Looking back on this picture after his recent death makes me feel vulnerable because of my mother's embrace around him is so nurturing, in a similar way, I felt the same way when I detoxed myself from music when I travelled on the underground and started paying more attention to the way people and animals connect and show affection on the underground with each other rather than focusing on my own thoughts.
I'll be using this picture as a way of portraying vulnerability through drawing and collage.
Daniel Turner: Movement
Daniel Turner, Three Movements, 2018
https://karmakarma.org/exhibitions/daniel-turner-three-movements-bronze/
I found Turner's art installation "Three Movements" extremely interesting as it depicts movement through a cloud-like effect of bronze smudged on sections of the gallery's wall and floor.
Similarly, the underground has similar dirt scrapes from the abrasion of the underground carriages against the walls. Movement is something that I'll be conveying through various textural/print work.
Mark Rothko
Book: Rothko by Jacob Baal-Teshuva
Comparing Rothko to Underground scratches and other underground details
Transport as a State of Mind
Book: Transit by Marco Brambilla, 1999
This photography book of different airports stations and details by Marco Brambilla exudes the same atmosphere as public transport through colour schemes and distinctive lighting, although, the absence of people makes a big difference to the pictures.
When analysing the photographs, I realised they portrayed my usual mental state when I ride the underground.
I always feel really clear-headed and inspired and these pictures represent that effectively through the absence of people.
The fluorescent lights reflected on the glass ceilings and walls could depict the creative spark and chaotic energy that I would like to include in the project. This would contrast with the tranquillity of the hues of blue.
Underground
My two favourite Instagram accounts are @subwayhands and @bagdogs because their content is comforting and heartwarming expressed through the closeness and relationship that the subjects have with their environment.
The main similarity between both accounts is that the photographs are taken on the underground. That made me reflect on my one relationship to public transport and how I use it on a daily basis as well as a medium of inspiration. A lot of my ideas are born on the underground because it's a place where I wonder and daydream a lot.
I'll be sketching some of their photographs as well as some observational drawing I'll make on the underground myself.
Picture 1: @subwayhands on Instagram (Two people holding hands)
Picture 2: @bagdogs on Instagram (Dog in a backpack)
Picture 3: @bagdogs on Instagram (Combination of dogs in bags and the owner's hands, on their phone.)
Spare Time: Social Media
Below are some of my favourite Instagram accounts, for entertainment purposes.
I find the aesthetic of these accounts appealing and in some way, I'd like to incorporate that same chaoticness into my project.
I think I could represent the visual appearance by photographing, sketching etc similar environments/people.
Spare Time: Films
Suspiria (Remake) by Luca Guadagnino, 2018:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034415/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
McQueen by Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui, 2018:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6510332/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Girl by Lukas Dhont, 2018
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8254556/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Paris is Burning by Jennie Livingston, 1990:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100332/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
Call Me By Your Name by Luca Guadagnino, 2017:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5726616/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Black Swan by Darren Aronofsky, 2010:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Red by John Logan, 2009:
https://www.officialtheatre.com/wyndhams-theatre/red/
Kiss of the Rabbit God by Andrew Thomas Huang, 2019:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9097540/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
The Matrix by Lana and Lily Wachowski, 1999:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
School ID's
These are my ID cards from the schools I've attended in London.
When I moved to London, at 15 years old, I went through a really horrible phase of feeling very unhappy at all times, so I could maybe focus on the change I went through the years and consequently the things and people I had to detox myself in order to become a better self.
I can see through the pictures and the way I present myself how I've throughout the years by becoming more confident with the way I look and express myself.
The secondary school I was in also aggravated my mental state because of the self-expressive restrictions I had to face.
To Buy List:
fabric shops + charity shops - collections.
travel - Crema, Asia, New York, Serbia.
sugar pot - coffee.
cinema.
concerts.
museums.
bicycle.
motorcycle.
motorola RAZR V3 matte black.
psychedelics.
jewellery- black contact lenses of whole eye, red iris contact lenses, tattoos, erl and labret hoop piercing, new rings, chain-like necklaces, stud bracelet, garter, lace gloves, chain bracelet.
books and magazines - fashion, art, photography, brain, politics, love, religion - Nine Lives by Dave Dumanis - Vagabond by Colette - I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - Sputnik Sweetheart - Picture of Dorian Gray - The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.
white silk for bedsheets.
To Do List:
Daily: Uni Work (Notes), exercise, meditation, prayer, ideas and content diary.
Brighton Charity Shops
Car Boot Sales
Mile End and Deptford Markets
Galleries - Tim Walker, 180 Strand.
Infernos Club
Submit artwork and poetry for magazines (screenshot - camera roll)
Register at the new GP
Date with Ella - Tim Walker <3
Emma - Poetry Zine Collab
Finn - Ice Skating
Christmas Presents:
Anika: David Lynch Shirt Depop
Finn: That stupid lighter he wants
Emma: Cards Against Humanity Game
Ella: Faux Fur Bucket Hat
Maria: Central Perk Mug
Seat Print
In order to merge both the Inwards/Outwards project and the Denim Project, I decided to use denim to portray the seats on the underground, more specifically, the impression we leave behind/the fading of the moquettes.
Book: Seats of London by Andrew Martin, 2019
In the book "Seats of London" by Andrew Martin, he studies the work of Sarah Rathbone, where she photographed the London Underground Moquettes.
Rathbone didn't want to include people in her project but she wanted to include how people unconsciously interacted with the seats. This interaction can be seen by the newspapers left on the scene, by the indentation on the seats or the subtle fading of the fabric on both the seat and back caused by the spine.
Moving Light
Momentum at the Other Spaces Exhibition.
The kinetic structures of light swing along music composed and produced by Mira Calix.
The idea of moving light is something that is very dear to me. Similarly, on the tube, the fluorescent lights seem to follow us as we walk.
Light
Throughout the past couple of weeks, I have been capturing things and moments on the underground and the most successful images and drawings are the ones that deal with light and movement as they radiate the same powerful energy of clear-mindedness and busyness I crave when I'm on the underground.
The picture below was taken in a park although I was fascinated by it because it shows light coming from an ominous underground room. The light blinded me as I stepped on the metal grid "holding" it in.
The leaves covered the light slightly as if it wanted to remain hidden.
To support these images, I researched on Olafur Eliasson's work with light.
The book Olafur Eliasson: Your Lighthouse by Annelie Lutgens helped me to uncover some of Eliasson's most recent work which deals a lot with the reflection of multiple lights.
Olafur Eliasson, Mirror box, 1997, Stalke Galleri, Copenhagen, 1997
Similarly to my own photograph, Eliasson plays with the idea of hidden light until someone searches for it. This piece's fish-eye lens reminds me of the linearity and continuity of the underground.
Underground Seats Print
Book: Seats of London by Andrew Martin, 2019
The official Moquette used in London public transportation is made by a company called Camira Fabrics.
I researched a lot on the history behind the underground's seat print and found that there were always very different prints for each type of buses and undergrounds lines. The prints also represented different art periods humanity was facing, one of my favourite ones was the Art Deco and Jazz Era.
Oyster Travelcards
I'm using my oyster cards over the years in my collages and development work.
I want to portray the essence of public transport by "dismantling" the oyster card, on my collages like parts of the underground. I also want to combine their colour schemes and expand the most successful colours that represent both me and public transport.
Poetry Quotes:
I'm looking deeper into this quote from a poem I made back in September of 2019 called "building for tomorrow"
"you've lost yourself underground but found solace in glanced glass and mother of pearl / breakdown these feelings and feel them through these static lines / your patience runs deeper than these tunnel lights.
The sentence "found solace in glanced glass and mother of pearl" could be depicted by reflecting my development work or even creating work with artificial reflected light that resembles the light on the underground.
Analysing my poetry
These are quotes from my own poems that mention public transportation or more particularly, the underground. Not to mention the ones where I don't actually talk about the underground but were written on it.
These quotes from my poetry will inspire me to create for this project as some of them could be visualised quite easily.
"91115. the underground tells me to live / 26 minutes to 12 am and to a new year / about 36 minutes later we kissed"
"the crowd is only big if you make it out to be / the crowd is only busy if I'm too"
"looking up at the late ceiling, I saw a spine"
"i stand, aligned with the underground's scales / but I don't feel any movement for more than a minute or three"
"you've lost yourself underground but found solace in glanced glass and mother of pearl / breakdown these feelings and feel them through these static lines / your patience runs deeper than these tunnel lights.
"pink feather, from old winter collections / in moving trains, right where I stood"
"let go of fears cause you'll feel you in no time / blue shirt, sat on the same carriage / don't speak, but you can look and smile'"
Strangers on the underground:
I'm very fascinated by the tube because I tend to get really inspired when I ride it as I'm able to reflect and analyse on my life and my surroundings really well.
For this project, I'll be doing the same but I'll be expanding on the mediums I use so that they are not as still and emotionless.
These are a few sketches of the people I've drawn when I'm on the underground, on my Ideas Diary:
Phone Wallpapers
I use the wallpapers of my phone as a way of manifesting certain experiences or goals into the real world.
For example, when I felt like I needed to liberate myself spiritually, I put a behind-the-scenes photograph of FKA Twigs hanging by two wires. For me, this represents freedom.
I like to use artists' work that I find inspiring or research from my projects as it triggers my brain to always be thinking creatively.
Favourite Musicians/Artists
The artists I listen to the most are FKA Twigs, Frank Ocean and Arca. Their music inspires me when I'm doing work or when I'm commuting to different places.
Their life stories also motivate me to push myself creatively to achieve goals and their music always makes me feel powerful and vulnerable at the same time which is the greatest combination of feelings to make art.
Fka Twigs by Willy Vanderperre:
https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/zmjny4/fka-twigs-interview-magdalene-new-album
Frank Ocean by Willy Vanderperre:
Arca by Willy Vanderperre:
https://www.anothermanmag.com/library/gallery/8842/arca-for-another-man-issue-21/1
Spare Time: Music
These are my Spotify Playlists for different moods.
Digital Portrait
My YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPgoL62esefPZ_qrSepuekw?
On YouTube, I make short videos on concepts or places I've visited. I like to collage and layer my footage together as I find it very therapeutic to look back on my memories and be able to montage them into a visual, moving and audible films.
They often include my poetry as well as my family, friends and my work.
Digital Portrait
My Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/catarinadiasilva/
I decided to look at myself online as it would be an easy way of looking deeply of who I am and my changes on a regular basis.
Often, people portray themselves in a different manner on social media, however, I tend to be truthful to who I am as a person.
From my feed, one can see that I'm interested in photo editing as I enjoy to play with photo layering and background removal etc whilst maintaining the essence of the photographs.
I also like to share photos of my own art or development work, friends, art exhibitions/performances and parties/raves that I go to.
One particular thing that distinguishes my social media usage is the way I caption my photographs. Ever since 2018, I caption most of my photographs with my poetry, which deals with various aspects of my personal life and memories. Once again, I feel like I expose myself sincerely on the Internet, which is why I decided to look into my social media usage.
To Watch List:
Selena
Corpse Bride
Othello
Chocolat
Amelie
The Essence of Sex
Rocky
Double Happiness
Fame
White Crow
Carmen
Dreamgirls
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Big Little Lies
The Strange Thing About the Johnsons
The Holy Mountain
The Cabinet of Dr Caligrali
Heal
Honey Boy