Archive for the ‘underground chambers’ Category

Fragments. An old chair. Inspiration for new work.

Wednesday, February 7th, 2018

As a small child I pulled things apart. Even, before I could talk, I ripped apart dolls and toys. I used to make little displays, installations of the fragments and other discarded things. Today I still pull things apart. I find fragments more pleasing and sometimes, even more interesting than the original object.

 

 

Recently, I pulled apart an old chair that had been hanging around for years. The wood was still good. The cloth and leather had grit and rust, just perfect for sculpture. The rustic bits and pieces also related to some textile fragments, I unpicked from an 1800’s, quilt topper. I’m still working on outcomes and painting has crept in too. Below are some pics of the process.

 

 

 

 

 

Art Blog Diaries. Reminiscing & Evolving as an Artist.

Saturday, May 13th, 2017

I started this blog back in the early 2000’s as a sort of diary, to document my work and creative life and to give something back to others.

 

 

Going through some of my old posts recently, I was able to pin point, some pivotal moments in my life, of where my ideas and artworks originally came from, why my work and arts practice has changed and how, it’s evolved over the years, to where it is today.

 

 

 

After visits to Europe, UK and an arts residency in Spain, in 2005, I especially noticed some changes in the way I was working. Though I have always worked between disciplines, painting was always my main form of expression. I was becoming more dissatisfied with just painting and found it hard to do any creative work for awhile. Then, after a 3 month stay in France 2007, I realized I could no longer, only use paint, to express my ideas.

 

 

 

 

This led to a series of experimental installations, videos and a book of photographs. Touched by Dada and Surrealist ideas, I had to re-access what I was doing as an artist.

 

 

 

 

 

The installation and video below “Parisgrit” was shown at Tilt Gallery, in Melbourne in 2006. I can see quite a few interesting elements in it, but it’s way too long and very noisy. Maybe someday, I will get around to re-working it and revamping it into something else.

 

 

 

https://youtu.be/qUp3r-oEa-I

 

 

By looking back over my old blog posts or (diary entries) I find it helpful, to reflect on the areas, where I can make improvements and expand on previous ideas. I can also see where, my ideas have come from. I get a glimpse of how & why, my artwork, techniques and materials have changed over time and maybe where I could be heading in my arts practice.

Paris Manhole. Underground Spaces.

Sunday, October 26th, 2014

Found Abstractions
Manholes utility holes, cable chambers, access chambers, inspection chambers, maintenance holes,  confined spaces) Top openings to underground spaces.

Photographs taken in Paris, France and England by Jenny Davis. 2005,2007 & 2009.

TPTP Project Space Paris

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

A couple of exciting things have happened to me lately that I’d like to share with you.

My latest exhibition at TPTP Project space in Montmartre Paris, France.

ROOM OF REFERENCES invites artists to share idea-evoking images and objects, and look into the ones of others. The piece can be of any kind (art work, photo, drawing, music piece, book, magazine, letter or other object) as long as it has very special/profound meaning to you, and has worked as inspiration source for you during a longer period.

You can see more about the exhibition at the gallery’s website.

https://sites.google.com/site/roomofreferences/

This is one in a series of shots I took in the underneath
area of an apartment building in Asnieres-sur-seine, Paris 2007.
The image inspired me to create “Meet the Tenant” project.
Since 2007 I have continued the project, had an image
published in a horror magazine in Australia,created a portfolio of photographs,  a video
and sound installation which was exhibited in Melbourne
Australia, 2008. I also developed an art proposal seen here
http://www.outlook8studio.com/2010/01/24/meet-the-tenant-project/

In 2009/10 went back to Paris to photograph and video in
the same space including other other underground areas for future art projects in Paris and Melbourne.

Also ,when I was in Paris earlier this year I was selected to put in 3 of  my paintings into a new publication “Abstractions 2010” ,New Art Review magazine, MI.USA

You can purchase the book here http://new-art-review.com/bookstore.html

Cheers for now

Meet the Tenant Project – The Dungeon Paris

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Meet the Tenant Project – The Dungeon Paris

Over the past 3 months I have been living and making art with my daughter in Paris. I came here to  finish off an arts project I started  2 years ago.

Meet the Tenant project began during the Summer of 2007, when I ventured down into the underground area of an apartment block in Asnieres sur seine. I sensed the presence of past lives lurking within the walls and this became the starting point for my project.

I call this space “The Dungeon” Within days I had massed hundreds of images, video, photos and drawings. I took them back to my studio in Australia and have been working on the project ever since. I edited the videos into an 18 minute piece and printed out some of the photos. Developed a story-line which keeps changing, and created a proposal to be performed . (See 1st draft below)

Today back in Paris 2010, I’m still no closer to resolving this project its forever ongoing and not sure where it will end up and its driving me mad.

Proposal No.1 $10,000Jenny Davis 2010

“Go to Paris from Australia & live in an underground space for 7 days and document everything that happens with video, photographs, drawings, whatever. All things created become yours. You will own the experience, everything, including my clothes, shoes, food containers ,implements etc…I will deliver them to you. The art piece is… The whole experience…. you can do with it what you want”

(Due to sub zero temps. this project was canceled and may be performed at a later date)

An underground space under the Notre Dame Paris

Map copyright PlanetWare.com

Meet the Tenant Book. A visual essay shot in Paris.

Monday, October 27th, 2008


Latest news
MEET THE TENANT-I have just finished creating my first publication.
Click on the button to see a preview:

Support independent publishing: buy this book on Lulu.
MEET THE TENANT by Australian Artist Jenny Davis

ABOUT THE BOOK Stylish small-format self published coffee table book

SIZE “9×7”

STYLE White Glossy Hardcover- Coloured photo and Title

PAGES 42 low gloss archival quality pages of 46 colour & 11 B/W of High quality HR Photographs.

LANGUAGE: English

COUNTRY: Australia

CATEGORY: Arts & Photography

COPYRIGHT YEAR: Jenny Davis © 2008

DESCRIPTION:
” Meet the Tenant” A visual essay shot in Paris by Australian Artist Jenny Davis. This is not your usual “cliché” view of Paris. ” What lurks under the City of Paris……..

I am fascinated by the beauty in the unseen the contained and murky, sometimes thought of as dirty and ugly “Meet the Tenant” started in Paris 2007  after I ventured into the dungeon area, under a Paris apartment. I could feel past lives lurking within it’s damp walls and eerie narrow chambers of numbered red doors. I spent many days down there alone, soaking in the atmosphere of the space, in order to connect to some sort of creative energy. Eventually, it took off in all directions.

This book will be very limited in it’s print run

PLEASE NOTE
The sale of this book or any other of my prints or photography does not transfer any copyright or reproduction rights. COPYRIGHT: Jenny Davis © 2015