Brighton Portfolio Statement

Burton Bridget 111-495-3008 Through studying on the Foundation Course I’ve been enabled to develop new skills and experiment with a range of different techniques and materials. This has included technology; in particular video and sound. Alongside this I have discovered the work of artists such as Francis Alys and Marvin Gaye Chetwynd. Their (and others) way of working has inspired me to new heights and, more importantly, enabled me to break the boundaries of what I thought possible in my own work. This development in my practice makes me feel that the Sculpture course at Brighton would be ideal. It would allow me to widen my vision by learning new skills and giving me the opportunity to work with exciting materials, spaces and ideas through the vast array of facilities. The course appears to be directed towards forward thinking people and specifically designed to push them further in their creative work and concepts. In my recent work focused on human nature and everyday happenings, I’ve collaborated with people and responded to specific spaces - to display and to perform, but also to develop ideas by weaving and intertwining the reactions of the people that I have involved in my work. This process can transform final pieces completely and the creative utilisation of these reactions is something that I consider to be fundamental to my current way of thinking. The courses focus on communal working (across the years) would enhance my creative approach and I feel I would thrive on the Sculpture course, the contemporary attitude it takes towards working, the endless array of facilities and the focus on presenting art in unconventional ways. These are all things that enthral and excite me.

Culture Clash (August 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Culture Clash A1, Chalk Pastel on paper (August 2013) Large scale drawing developed through size, colour and texture based on an earlier sketch of a skull.

Culture Clash (August 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Culture Clash A3, Oil pastel on paper (August 2013) Large scale drawing developed through size, colour and texture based on an earlier sketch of a skull.

Culture Clash (August 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Culture Clash A1, Oil Paster, Charcoal. (August 2013) Large scale drawing developed through size, colour and texture based on an earlier sketch of a skull.

Stick or Twist (Detail) (September 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Stick or Twist (Detail) A1, Sand on paper (September 2013) Mark making, forming part of an installation centred around the selling of a broom.

Stick or Twist (September 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Stick or Twist Installation (h 2 x w 2.5 x d 1.3 m), Sand, Glue, Paper, Broom, String, Sieve. (September 2013) An installation centred around the selling of a broom.

Decay (Mood Board) (September 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Decay (Mood Board) A1, Images, newspaper, watercolour. (September 2013) A detail of a mood board for textile project 'Decay' focusing on the textures of decaying materials and their manipulation.

Life Drawing (October 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Life Drawing A1, Charcoal and pencil on paper (October 2013)

Life Drawing (November 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Life Drawing A1, Charcoal, chalk pastel and pencil. (November 2013)

Solitude (Concept Board) (October 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Solitude (Concept Board) A1, watercolour, ink, newspaper, film, images, tape. (October 2013) A concept board for a 3-D recycle project looking at solitude, focusing on tunnels and the fear and discomfort that surrounds us when we journey through them. Inspired by the Tyne Tunnel because of it's seemingly never ending length. I concentrated on darkness and shape as these are the dominant aspects.

Solitude (October 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Solitude Bin Bags, Speakers, Sound featured faint whispering (2m x 1.3m x 1.3m) (October 2013) Installation for my 'Solitude' brief. The confined space was my reaction to the emotions, fear and unease we feel when we journey through tunnels. The Installation used sound; I placed small speakers in various places and then played an almost inaudible sound track of whispering. The resulting effect was confusion from the audience; the sound luring them in, in their attempt to fathom the whispering.

Solitude (Detail) (October 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Solitude (Detail) Bin Bags, PVA Glue, Ink, Speakers, Whispering soundtrack. (2m x 1.3m x 1.3m) (October 2013) A detail of the final piece 'Solitude'.

Are You Sitting Comfortably? ('Jump' Video Stills) (November 2013)

Bridget Burton 1114953008 Are You Sitting Comfortably? ('Jump' Video Stills) 'Jump' - 1:30 (November 2013) 'Kneel' - 1:30 'Spin' - 1:30 'Are You Sitting Comfortably?' is an installation made up of three videos. Each video begins with the same empty landscape and then, one by one, four people enter to perform (different) simple actions i.e. jumping, spinning etc. As the number of people increases the movement becomes stronger and more overpowering. The videos are a reaction to the process of watching a person become consumed by an idea or happening, such as within a cult or even at a football match. There are only two choices; to be detached and to observe or to join in and feel part of something.

Are You Sitting Comfortably? (Sketchbook) (November 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Are You Sitting Comfortably? (Sketchbook work) Stills from the videos that form part of 'Are You Sitting Comfortably?' (November 2013) Video is a comparatively new medium for me and during the process and development of my project and ideas, I try to analyse everything I make. The sketchbook work is an essential part of my work process.

Are You Sitting Comfortably? (November 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Are You Sitting Comfortably? Video Installation. Chiffon, acrylic, Video. (2m x 2m x 1.3m) (November 2013) Jump - 1:30 Kneel - 1:30 Spin - 1:30 For the installation I used chiffon to break up the video image. The chiffon included hand prints to show the natural, primal feeling of being involved whilst the fragmentation of the image distances the viewer from the physical event.

Ritual (Sketchbook) (December 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Ritual Sketchbook Artist research- Bruce McLean (left), Stills of development videos (right). (November 2013) I look at a range of artists during project work - not to copy but to inspire. For example Bruce McLean's "pose sculpture" lead me to consider apparently pointless but ritualistic actions.

Ritual (Sketchbook) (December 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Ritual (Sketchbook) A1, Acrylic on paper (December 2013) I looked at the shape of falling material to enable me to research ideas related to the development of the film used in my final piece (see following images).

Ritual (Working Drawing) (December 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 A1, Acrylic on paper (December 2013) I looked at the shape of falling material to enable me to research ideas related to the development of the film used in my final piece (see following images).

Ritual (December 2013)

Ritual Burton Bridget 1114953008 Video Installation, bed linen, eiderdown (December 2013) (2m x 2m x 1.4 m) 'Ritual' - 9:23 This work was a reaction to the daily moments and small happenings that create a bigger response; focusing mainly on domestic events such as a dripping tap or a squeaky step. These occurrences are virtually invisible and invariably mundane, hence my use of everyday materials (bed linen and eiderdown). The image was presented on its side in slow motion. A sense of tension and release was created directly mirroring the original experience.

Ritual (Video Stills) (December 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 Ritual (Video Stills) Video Stills, Bed Linen, Eiderdowns. (December 2013) 'Ritual' - 9:23 Stills from video showing tension and release sequence.

Dead Fish (January 2013)

Burton Bridget 1114953008 DEAD FISH (January 2013) A1, Watercolour (January 2013) Observational drawing of two fish. Research material inspired by Laure Prouvast's work "Farfromwords".