REVISED BRIEF 2.0 [Set 18th March]

As a result of the given circumstances, we were given a revised version of the initial brief which is shown below.

---

BA (Hons) Photography

Unit Title

Exhibit in the City

Unit Code

1H5Z0302

Unit Tutor

Ben McDonnell (b.mcdonnell@mmu.ac.uk)

Date Set

18 Feb 2019 (original date)

Tutor/s

Alan Jones, Ben McDonnell, Jan Fyfe, Sue Fox.

Date Due

15th May 2019

Brief Summary and Indicative Content:

An important part of being an artist is developing the skills to adapt and react to unexpected situations. This is something we have all encountered in our professional lives and through the support of our peers and network we are able to develop innovative and creative solutions to these problems. 

As such we would like you to create a group exhibition that is presented through an online platform. This could take a number of different forms and there are some ideas below to help inspire your creative thinking. 

You should continue to work as a group, as you would do in preparation for an exhibition in a public gallery, all this activity should be documented as it would usually be. 

Here are some ideas to consider that might be used in combination:

• A website is perhaps the most obvious way to present your exhibition. It’s important that the exhibition website is different to a regular portfolio website that presents images in sequence or slideshow. Think about how images in a gallery might spatially, formally and conceptually relate to each other. How might you translate this to an online platform.

• Creating a model of the exhibition using a 3D modelling tool such as google sketch-up could be an interesting way of representing ideas for curation and you could incorporate this into a website. 

• Think about how you could use photoshop to create installation shots

• Can you find innovative online display mechanisms that support the work such as VR? 

• Could you (as a group) curate a Liverpool Biennial style exhibition of your work all over Manchester using google maps and streetview? 

• An online platform also offers opportunities that a conventional gallery doesn’t, work can be changed or developed each day or incorporate a live stream. How can you innovate with this format of presentation?

This list of ideas/examples is not finite and you should aim to think of new ways to respond creatively to the brief. 

The major assessed component of the unit is your work in response to the provocation ‘What Photography Is’. Your Digital Reflective Journal is the space to document, reflect upon and critically analyse the research and experimentation that supports the work. 

Learning Outcomes:

1. Demonstrate abilities to participate and contribute to group activities that develop the project brief and enhances good working relationships with others.

2. Make practical use of a range of techniques and processes that relate to the development of photographic practice and explore methods to present work in an exhibition/art installation context.

3. Utilise exhibition and web-based display to explore the ways place/space both virtual and real can influence context and meaning of individual photographic practice.

4. Undertake an individual role that will establish and enhance links with external networks and apply methods to manage time and organise workloads of self and others.

5. Communicate ideas and knowledge of photographic practice developed using a range of methods including oral presentation, art/photographic exhibition and written summaries.

Work Submitted:

Summative assessment will take place at the end of the unit. You must submit; 

GROUP SUBMISSION

1.      Online Exhibition work which showcases the conceptual and craft skills attained. This should be presented as a website.

2.      Accompanying Exhibition Supportive Material showcasing your group’s practices. Catalogues, website, social media, reviews, exhibition statements can all be submitted. 

INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSION

3.      Reflective Journal (+ Reflective Overview); Individual Digital Reflective Journal detailing your research into how your work responds to the provocation of ‘What Photography Is’. 

Format: Online blog. This can include links, videos, scans of sketchbooks and books and journals from the library. Must include a written summary of the journal of approximately 800 words. This summary will evidence your ability to analyse and evaluate information you have gathered. 

4.      Peer Evaluation of approximately 600 words reflecting on the performance of your peers and their individual contribution to the group work. Form available on Moodle, and to be included as part of your Reflective Journal submission.

Please note: You are expected to evidence at least 300 hours of work being synthesised into this submission. 

Please see hand in forms on Moodle.

Key Dates and Deadlines:

Introduction to Unit : 18th February 2020.

Introduction to v2.0 18th March 2020

Group and Individual submissions (summative Assessment) due on 15th May

Feedback: Week of 1st June 2020.

Important. Please note: Your Exhibition must be accessible for a minimum of one week, Starting From the 15th May.

Check Moodle on a regular basis for further information, handouts and updates.

---

PERSONAL REACTION TO REVISED BRIEF IN RESPONSE TO CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION

[Problems that may occur, and resolutions]

Initial idea prior to revised brief ... (featured on previous post)

"After reviewing my preliminary thoughts and ideas, I have come to the conclusion that I will start by creating work that questions photography's materiality. Looking into the history of the medium, and how far it has come since its invention in the eighteen hundreds, and considering our growing intimate relationship to it with regards to the everyday. The idea that now, as a result of the digital revolution, the only way we seem to view and experience imagery and photographs is through a screen. Whether this be as a result of conducting artist research, or simply viewing work on an artists or gallery's website. Our only encounter with the physical photograph is via a physical exhibition. I will therefore use this brief 'Exhibit in the city' as an opportunity to comment on this digitisation of the photographic image."

---

As a result of the current global situation, the way in which we work and undertake our practises has been severely hindered and affected. We are having to create work from the confinements of our own personal spaces and environments and are unable to use the facilities required to make necessary work. Furthermore, the final outcome of the brief of physically ‘exhibiting in the city’ has ultimately been abandoned. We are now having to create a virtual and digital exhibition that will be available to the public for a certain amount of days. Obviously, I am fully aware that this situation has both positives and negatives, and myself who usually likes to work in a predominantly structured and physical manner will especially find this challenging. However, saying this, I aim to view this situation in the most positive way possible and begin to challenge my own practices and ways of working as a response to the current situation. It will push me to work in ways I never would've usually considered, and think in an entirely different nature. Obviously, the main aspect of this that will be disturbed, is that my overall concept for this brief was to do with questioning and exploring the materiality and physicality of the photograph and photographic medium. I will thus have to alter my thoughts and approaches and perhaps try and see some positives in this situation. For example, considering the fact that we are lucky enough to still be able to work virtually, and the internet, and technologies has allowed for us to continue working under circumstances like these.