Learning To Look

As an extension to my first self initiated brief, I also took park in an outward facing project called ‘Learning to Look’. Based around trend forecasting, this project was about learning to look further than your specialism, moving with the spirit of the times and developing a sense that allows you to pick up on commonalities that run through our current society. Before I began taking part in this project, I was worried that the extra work load may cause disturbances to my self initiated practice, however I quickly came to realise, that learning to look was not about initiating a new body of work, but using this new process of development to enhance the connection with what my practice was trying to say. I have been in contact with trend forecasting in the past, and always struggled to achieve ‘the third eye’ view that allows you to always be looking for that next piece of inspiration (See Fig.1). With practice, I soon came to realise that it is not something that always comes naturally or instantly, but is a working process that evolves with your practice the more you open yourself up to the surrounding world. As a working practice within learning to look, we also spent time together as a group on a weekly basis, sharing our experiences and developments. Having the opportunity to share ideas with those working through a similar process to myself, allowed me to be more open and free to taking on board ideas. Instead of presenting, which is the feeling I get with usual group tutorials, our learning to look crits felt more like discussions, a group of individuals all just as interested in each others direction choices as their own, which to me was the most rewarding aspect of taking part in Learning to Look.

(Fig.1 Trend Forecasting Board)

As learning to look came to a close, we also had the oppertunity to curate an exhibition in the Manchester School of Art, Vertical Gallery. This was a really exciting opportunity for all of us, as not only was it an opportunity to display our end results and hard work but it also provided us with the experience of setting up our first exhibition (See Fig.2). Installating the exhibition was a surprisingly slow process, however it was useful to understand the time scale and external elements that need to be considered. This was such a great opportunity that I was happy to be involved with, i feel this has provided me with invaluable experience and knowledge that will help me when it comes to the curation of my degree show.

(Fig.2 My piece in the Learning to Look Exhibition 2016)