Last day of weaving block

After some independent weaving practices, we started finishing and mounting our samples.

I can see how amazing my peers' work is. It was really excited when I saw all of the samples I wove. I believe I was getting better while learning more and more technical knowledge. 

Next thing we need to do is lay out our samples. I can't wait to look at samples my classmates weave on Monday.

Feeling stressed

Today I felt stressed, after I having a look of other's work. Their samples look so fantastic. I think I need to work harder.

I found some interesting weaving patterns on the wall of weave room, then I tried to weave them. I love trying to weave new patterns. When I weave some new patterns, it feels like I can create magic. Besides, I believe that feeling textures by my own fingers is a way to observe samples.

Week 4 Blog Task

Last Friday we had a lecture about war in the museums. We were told the history of army uniforms, which were more related to textiles I think. After lecture, I went to National Army Museum and Imperial War Museum to get further understanding.

National Army Museum and Imperial War Museum are both displaying objects about war, but there are still some differences between these two museums. I think NAM focuses on uniforms in the wars more than IWM. I can see more uniforms both in paintings and displaying windows. It tells the history by showing the development of uniforms. When visitors understand what is behind the uniform, they will comprehend the meaning of a conflict. Unlike NAM, there are more models of tanks and fighters. These two museums convey stories by focusing on different objects. There is more vested interest in NAM. Display design in NAM is following chronological order, I think it is more clear and easier for visitors to understand.

Before visiting these two museums, I thought war is cruel and bloody, also full of separation and death. But NAM changed some of my perspectives. As I paid more attention to development of textile and colour in uniforms, I can easily see the progress in technology of fabric and textiles. For other parts, I believe that the conflict also developed the technique, and then it helped history to get further. I believe that is important for modernization. 

I prefer the way IWM used space, it is brighter instead of dark. However, I think the design of light and sound impact deeply on me in NAM. I felt very depressed in the darkness and I was scared by the sudden sound. I believe sight and hearing sense are two important ways to impact on people's emotion. I like the design for movie in NAM, it is another way to engage with visitors by creating a bird's-eye view in front of movie.

Keeping weaving

Today is independent weaving day. I tired to weave some new patterns with my own materials. Weaving is really interesting, even if it is tiring, but when I started to weave, I didn't think about stopping. I will consider choosing weave as my subject.

Patterns and materials

After basic practice, we started to weave patterns with different materials.

I'm in group B of weave, so I came to school in the afternoon. The weaving samples Francesca made surprised me, it also let me felt excited about today's practice.

We have been sent two sheets with pattern introductions, which I think it's so useful.

I tried to use different materials to weave, I was really proud of the amazing outcome I created. 

The gold yarns create amazing textures on different kinds of materials. 

I was inspired by our tutor Lisa, she advised me weave colour yarn with cotton chenille alternately. However, the colour yarn is not so clear aside velvet.

Lisa told us that we can see different patterns on the back of the sample made. I think it's also lovely especially in the light.

I really enjoyed weaving technical block this week. 

Finally get a small sample of weaving

We spent two days preparing for weaving fabric, today we finally weaved a small sample.

The tutor Rebecca Chiver showed us how to weave. There were just two words in my mind when I was watching Rebecca's demonstration, 'amazing' and 'professional'. Then we started to weave by ourselves, we used the string to practice at first. It was very complicated but interesting. After my lovely partner Francesca finished her part, I think I get much more understanding of weaving. When I weaved more, I felt skillful. It was really really amazing to watch each single yarn becoming a fabric.

Francesca and I chose different patterns, I can clearly see the difference. I will be so proud if I can weave lots of different patterns. It is fabulous when four colours were weaved into same piece of fabric.

Language class 23/10/2013

I was a little bit late for language class today because of weaving class. There were fewer students in class, which means we got more space for each person. I believe it was more comfortable. 

We were talking about blog task last week by answering some questions. Then we were introduced to Harvard system of referencing. I have written Harvard reference for essays when I was in foundation course, but I think the Harvard reference I wrote before are not so complete. Every person has been given a sheet about a short guide to Harvard reference. There are some useful Harvard references on that sheet. It helped me to correct the references I wrote in blog before.

I printed some of my blog pages and brought them to language class. Amanda helped me to check the grammar. I think it's really helpful, and she also gave me confidence to keep going on blog.

Second day of weaving

Second day for weaving block we started to use table loom, made some preparation for weaving tomorrow.

Tired but enjoyable start

Today is the first day of the technical block, I will be in weave group in this two weeks.

In the morning, each of us picked two yarns for warping with the help of tutor, then started to warp samples on card. I chose navy and gold. I think two colours of yarn are a little bit limited, but it was easy for us to have a good start. I saw lots of creative samples made by my peers.

Then in the afternoon, we started to warp into a roll of yarn, which is used for weave pattern as samples shown. It was quite confusing that how to figure out how many times we should warp. Thanks to the tutor, I can finally get the numbers I should warp.

There was one more difficulty for me, I can't remember the correct route to warp, it is so complicated. However, after warping more, it became clear and much more easier than beginning. And my partner Francesca did a big favor for me, I was so thankful. I was very tired today, but I really enjoy learning technology for weaving. I'm looking forward to weave by loom tomorrow.

The Pavilion designed by Sou Fujimoto

One of my friends went to Serpentine Gallery and recommended the Pavilion in Serpentine Gallery which designed by Sou Fujimoto.

Sou Fujimoto is a Japanese architect. I have never heard of him until this pavilion, it made me have a basic understanding of him. What he said about the Pavilion is 'It is a really fundamental question how architecture is different from nature, or how architecture could be part of nature, or how they could be merged... what are boundaries between nature and artificial things.'(Fujimoto, 2013) It is an admirable idea. I really appreciate his concept and work.

When I was having a tea with my friend in the pavilion, I found that there are some transparent circular plastic on the structure. I believe they are designed for protecting visitors from rain. It is a semi-transparent structure make people in the pavilion can clearly see the landscape. Visitors can have fun in the pavilion, because there are some steps that let people explore freely.

As a designer, Sou Fujimoto must consider lots of aspects. Design is not just for beauty, it is also important to make it convenient and useful.

It is a really really amazing design I think. As a textiles design student, I used a different way to view the pavilion. I can see different textures displaying on background of sky and trees. It can also be a colour palette, the white lines show on landscape gave me this idea. Besides, it is surprising when part of structure is shown in light. I love this design. 

References

Fujimoto, S. (2013) Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013 by Sou Fujimoto. [internet] Available from:< http://www.serpentinegalleries.org/exhibitions-events/serpentine-gallery-pavilion-2013-sou-fujimoto> [Accessed on 19 October 2013]

Research and prepare for weaving

Today I went to Southbank for research, also took some interesting colour photos for weaving block next week.

It was really lucky, I saw a rainbow and beautiful clouds when I was doing research. The colour of twilight also inspired me for my project.

Visiting TATE BRITAIN

After lecture today, I went to TATE BRITAIN with Nicole. In order to get further understanding of the lecture, I visited the museum in different way compared to the visit before.

As tutor said, there are some guides which is trying to control visitors. Those guides may help some people, but for me, I like to follow my feeling, follow my interest.

I found that there are less paintings or art works about colored people or underclasses. Most of them are describing the life of aristocrats and religion. I felt it was unfair and sympathetic. I believe that's why classical paintings can't draw my eye. 

Compared to those classical paintings, I prefer modern art. I can understand the history and background of classical arts, but they are limited. When I was viewing modern art works, I got passion to figure out what story it tried to show. I want to know the culture and meaning of them. It is totally different from viewing classical paintings.

I'm a little confused about the setting of following pictures. They placed ancient statues in a room full of modern paintings. I guessed they want to show the change of art styles in different periods. Anyway, it is interesting.

I really admired one of the settings. At first, the shadow of the work caught my eye. The original object is under the light, the shadow become a head of women, even the object is not a head. I can see the power of light. I can read another meaningful story from it.

I appreciated the collection of black and white photography. Those pictures recorded common people's life, they are approaching real people and real life. I can be easily inspired by those photos. In my opinion, art is making people feel the same feeling the artist felt.