Creative Process Lecture

Hosted at University College London near Russell Square in London, I attended the Creative Process Lecture for the second time. After last year with hosts including Grayson Perry, I wasn't sure how this year could top that. But amazingly it did.

Opening the day with ‘Truth to Materials’ was Cornelia Parker, a famous artist and sculptor who comments on the use of materials, destruction and personal value of possessions. Her expansive use of materials through her career has allowed her to be recognised as a leading influence in the art and design world. Her obsession with destruction, through her installations such as Cold Dark Matter,

Cold Dark Matter - constantcircles.com

Mass, Anti-mass and Breathless, we are confronted with important views about how we perceive and live our lives. I love the idea behind her pieces Mass and Anti-mass because they reflect natural destruction and manmade destruction. Hung in a room are the burnt fragments of a Texas church struck by lightening that then burnt to the ground. Eight years later she used the remnants again of a burnt church, but this time one from a hate crime against a black congregation in Alabama.

Mass - lindapacefoundation.org

The difference of these acts of nature and man but still ones that produce the same outcome where we have no control, is an interesting point to raise about the value of things we find personal and how far physical properties can be tested. It was interesting to hear about who and what had inspired Parker, and for her piece called ‘The Distance: A Kiss with Added String’, it was Marcel Duchamp. She had seen his exhibition at which on the opening night, he had covered the whole room in a mile of string completely obstructing the work hanging on the walls. From this she decided to wrap a mile of string around the famous sculpture ‘The Kiss’ to create this distance and to symbolise the time in history when this sculpture was too forward for the public so was covered with a sheet for years. What might be seen as a damaging act to this piece, was actually further inspiration for Parker.

The Distance - dulwichonview.org.uk

A man had cut the string from this sculpture, but rather than pressing charges, Cornelia dropped them and used the string that she tied back together again, to wrap into giant ball concealing a sharp weapon inside. The details of what this weapon is are still unknown today. Perhaps her work of the Magna Carta piece has been the most influential, involving people from all over the world who she believes to have importance to freedom and laws. For this commissioned piece of art, she and a team of embroiderers, stitched the wikipedia page of the Magna Carta, with the help of prisoners, Germaine Greer, feminist, Kenneth Clarke and Caroline Lucas, politicians, and Jimmy Wales, a co-founder of Wikipedia, as well as two hundred more. However, my favourite piece of all of her art was something that I had seen before but not realised it was hers. In the annual Royal Academy show, she decided to

Red Dots

submit a frame of a blank canvas with the red dots surrounding it. These red dots show the numerous sales this artist has had since the show has been opened and it is often up to debate about whether this is a scheme that should still run within the art world. However, Parker’s empty frame began to sell and they stuck the little red dots on hers. The next year she submitted a photo of what had happened the year before and continued this for serval years. This comical idea and print has been very popular but sadly she admitted that she may not be able to getting away with doing for another year in a row. Overall, I love the art she has created and she is a well-rounded and enthusiastic person and gave a rather hilarious response to “how do you come up with new ideas?”. “Drink a lot of wine.”

General Election - simoncroberts.com

Followed by the photographer, Simon Roberts, this was definitely a more relatable and inspiring subject for me. Roberts initiated the talk with information and tips about working in the photography world and how he found his way into it. Coming through an unconventional route he had studied Human Geography at University but upon leaving, he decided to pursue his interest in Photography. He has travelled the world documenting the landscape around it and comparing it to people, politics and the economy. He was chosen to be the Election Artist for the 2010 General Election and produced some unique outcomes that I think work incredibly well in portraying the British public. The way the photos are framed and have either crowds of people or very few intrigue me and I like the busyness in them, whether it’s from the houses, the people or the cameras surrounding the politicians. I have gained some new information form this lecture as Roberts mainly used a 50mm lens when photographing Russia to create photos that appear ‘as the eye sees’, giving these perfectly formed square photos with wonderful soft colours. An interesting talk about his life and troubles gave valuable information to budding photographers in the audience.

Voldemort - couliercreatures.com

The penultimate talk came from Mark Coulier, the winner of two Oscars for his makeup work on The Iron Lady and The Grand Budapest Hotel. I found his talk very eye-opening into the production and budget of huge blockbuster films as he gave us an insight into the level of time and money his company get for certain sections of designing transformation costumes. Although this lecture was rather alien to me, and something I am certain I won’t pursue, it was still an experience that makes you realise the industry is always far larger than you expect.




The final, and probably my favourite talk came from the painter Stuart Pearson-Wright. His comical and satirical discussion about his work was definitely needed as it came towards the end of the day. He spoke about his work with complete honesty, commenting on the successes and failures he endured and how he came to where he is today. He said it began when he painted Mr and Mrs

Mr and Mrs Cramps - architectsforhealth.com

Cramps and changed the perspective of the ground that they stood on and that his style evolved from that very point. He had painted them when he won the BP Travel Prize allowing him to travel anywhere in the world and he jokingly said “and naturally I chose Britain”. He included work he had done on large and small scales, the smallest being two inches tall, which still had huge amounts of detail and how he could carry them around with him. He also showed paintings he had done of himself, one of which featured a past girlfriend in a bath in the background and he casually stated “should have drowned her”. This comical behaviour is deficiently reflected in his work as there were many crude paintings that he had done for a period of time before moving on to more sombre paintings which he felt was necessary after messing around for so long. My favourite painting of his is a commission from winning the BP Portrait Price in 2001 where he had to paint the six presidents of the National Academy. He was clearly proud of this painting, and rightly so as the perspective is unique

The Six Presidents - andrewgrahamdixon.com

 and intriguing and the symbolism within the portrait has significant meaning. It reflects ideas about time constantly moving through the use of a circular table and all of the men sitting around it, as well as the dots on the rim of the plate of biscuits. The head of the table holds a biscuit as he is the man in charge. The dead chicken laying in the middle of table represents that one day all these men will be dead and eaten by worms, then fish and then people. These important connotations create an interesting painting however many critics did not as the result was described as ‘astounding’ and I imagine it said in a sarcastic tone. Wright jokingly expressed to us his confusion when they decided not to hang it in the entrance to the National Academy but in a room round the side. I found his lecture very humorous and his work inspiring and that what he is going on to do as a very exciting prospect.


In summary, if you have got through this dense post, I would highly recommend the Creative Process Lecture. Unfortunately, I believe that you have to attend as a school not a single person, but if you can mention and advise your teachers to look into it, it is a remarkable day with incredible hosts and huge ability to have some insight into what you like and where you want to go. Thanks for reading!