Tattoo to tell you when your phone is ringing...???

Before I begin, have a read of this article
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/nokia/9155974/Nokias-magnetic-tattoos-could-tell-you-your-phone-is-ringing.html

Now, when I read this I couldn't believe what was being said, a joke article perhaps? No, no, on further inspection I have found loads more articles talking about it.
I have one question.....WHY!?

In a world where almost anyone can be contacted at almost any time, why would someone need a permanent implant in their body to reinforce a feeling of control technology?

I've been thinking about this in regards to an essay I wrote this term about technology and cyborgs, which is the basis of my dissertation, that I begin to write over the summer. This will inform some new research, as I try to find out the answer to my question.


 Thoughts?

A Right Fine Mess Opening Night

The second year show opened yesterday, it was so good to see everything finished with everyone together to celebrate.

Apparently the opening night had a record number of visitors, which is pretty wonderful. Working on the bar as part of opening night team was fun, but I wasn't expecting

I was really pleased with how my work turned out, even though I was worried about it falling down all night, fingers crossed it doesn't!

My details for the show

Just finished writing my details for the show, which opens a week today, how exciting! I am happy with what they say, just hoping they get a good reception now.

Work Description

Paper, biro, coloured felt pen and wire

160cm x 80cm

Balancing act

An extract from an observation period of two months, the piece displays strong links between waking and dream life. The piece illustrates the delicate balance of conscious, controlled decisions made in waking life, and the untameable nature of our dreams.

Artist Statement

 My medium is in transition; I do not have a particular tool that I feel tethered too. During this project, I have experimented with handwritten text, a medium we are beginning to see less and less as we progress though the digital age. I constantly feel overwhelmed with high-tech devices, so the handwritten diary entries began when I wished to uncover how much technology was influencing my life. The work soon took on a life of its’ own, and was spurred on when I introduced my dream recollections, alongside the daily entries. I have always been influenced by the unpredictable nature of dreams and how they can influence our waking lives.  Dreams are mysterious and bewildering, they can bewilder yet instil ideas simultaneously, and they refuse to be controlled. I have found that whilst you can control waking life, as much as you desire, a dream cannot be tamed. My study has been influenced by sleep patterns, psychoanalysis and Freud’s writing ‘The Interpretation of Dreams’.  I believe a dream is just a different way to think, a channel to process thoughts, interaction and daily events, without interruption. We underestimate the importance of dreaming.

We start to put the show up on Monday, I can't wait to see my work hung up.

Frustrating wire!

I was having a few problems with fitting my work together, so it hangs how it should, it was very frustrating! I tried so many different mechanisms, all from wire. Unsurprisingly, it was the simplest idea that was the best...

 Matching the back and front was complicated too!

I can't wait to see it hung up!

A Right Fine Mess

Tomorrow, I'm going to be putting work together for a show in the Bargate Monument Gallery. The show is the outcome of the Solent second years 'professional development' unit, that we have been studying this term.
Are you in Southampton? why not stop by and have a look?

Images of this terms work

You may have noticed that I haven't actually shown my work for my uni project for this term. Don't worry, here are a few images to give you an idea of what I've been doing- allow me to explain...
 The idea behind the project came from getting a new phone at Christmas, a Blackberry, with internet access and instant messaging. I had never had a phone connected to the internet before, and was finding the email and Facebook notifications overwhelming and intrusive in my daily life. It was then I had the idea to write down every time my phone went off, to try and monitor exactly how much the technology was influencing my day to day life. The project snowballed from there, and soon I was writing down, and colour coding every part of my routine. It became and overview of my life, especially when I began involving my dreams, that started because I  was concious of the fact that my phone is always near me, including when I am asleep.
Have a look at the images, (they are photocopies from the diary I was keeping) and see what you think. The work may need some more explaining, but for now, here it is.

Conwy Morfa Beach

Untill I came to University in Southampton, I lived in North Wales. I don't think I appreciated how beautiful the area is, until I started going back for the holidays.
Theses photographs were taken this Easter, at the Conwy Morfa Beach, and I think they are stunning.