Saturday, September 23, 2006

Hello and welcome to this blog.

Over the next few months I will be describing the process I go through in developing a public art work. This process has been funded by something called an Art Plus Development Award through the Arts Council, if you are interested you can find out more here:
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/regions/project_detail.php?rid=6&sid=1&id=505

My starting point is about the idea of the parallel worlds which exist in Oxford, the city I grew up in and now live and practise in. I was partly inspired by Philip Pullman's description of 'windows' which allow Will and Lyra (in "The Subtle Knife") to get in and out of different worlds. But my project is not about different space-time continuums but rather about a city where priviledge is territorial, and the University students don't venture beyond a certain point while ordinary citizens cannot enter much of the city centre, an exclusive territory of colleges open only to those who 'belong'.

The 'windows' (the art work) I want to create will seek to open up new 'views' to the citizens of Oxford, of all worlds. To start with I will be documenting different areas, particularly focusing on the architecture. I will post photos, and other research here.