Introduction

This is a blog for the Here Tomorrow research group, a group of artists based at the University of the Arts London, who are conducting investigations through practice. The group are in residence in the Lethaby Gallery, Central Saint Martins, London from 31st July - 24th August 2007, with different artists participating each week. As part of the project we have agreed to document each others work. This is a way for us to share our ideas. And, hey guys, sorry if you received your joining invitations in German - what went wrong I do not know!!!

Anyway, during the first week, group members explored the space through different methods:



























Sonically - Maryclare Foa created songlines and lead the group in creating a symphony of sounds using the equipment we were working with, she has also been experimenting with video and live music,

With string Jane Grisewood and Maryclare created a string phone,

Through seismic exploration - Jane recorded her body movements through the use of pencil while walking,

Psychologically - Danielle is working an a methodology for a system of self analysis through art work.
































Tomorrow we plan a series of sound experiments in different parts of the gallery which resonate in different ways.

My own work is concerned with animation and performance. Could animation be seen as a type of performance as opposed to sequential drawings or a subset of film? To investigate this I am working on a series of experiments which combine live physical presence and animation. My work is primarily digital, so I welcomed the opportunity of working in a large gallery space to do something different from usual.

The first concept was to create a giant paper cartoon head mask of Betty Boop. I chose this character, because she is such an iconic figure and so overtly feminine. I wanted to create a more dangerous version of her. I also felt that my work had got a bit too serious lately and I need to lighten up a bit and take some time away from the computer!















Why did I want to do this - well I thought it would be interesting to get inside a cartoon character and experience life on the inside! Then armed with this experience I can go back to the computer and breathe new life into my current interactive webcam project.














So starting with a roll of wallpaper I started ripping and sticking until a head started to take shape. As I worked on it, a character started to emerge. Not the sanitised Betty Boop of later years, but a version inspired by her early character designs - yes Betty started out as a dog. Hence Dog Betty is starting to take shape!














Today I finished the draft maquette and tomorrow I hope to finish the head itself. It's still slightly too big and this is restricting the performance possibilities. So my next stage is to cut it down a little, then I'll be ready to start rehearsing Dog Betty mannerisms. I am already planning a whole series of scenarios to film next week.


This is Steve Colson from the Lethaby Gallery who is collaborating with us.