Final evaluation

Final evaluation

One of my aims is to challenge the assumptions that those living in estates today are unable to appreciate the abstract depictions of the buildings. I believe that the lack of accessibility to art is the main contributing factor to the class divide within it. I also believe abstract art can be appreciated by everyone irrespective of where they come from.

For the final part of my project I produced two large scale prints of the pieces that most successfully depicted the estates. These were printed in plastic paper to withstand the weather. I then exhibited them in the estates for anyone to see.

I considered whether to use the photos of the large scale prints in my final presentation. I find the contrast in the photos between the estate and prints powerful. But as the painting is now in print form, the texture and colours of the painting are dulled.

Bringing the prints from the estates into college could be very interesting. They may start to pick up dirt and damages, symbolising decay of the estates they depict due to neglect. This may also vary depending on the estate. However, I might have to wait for a longer time to see any prominent effects.

Bringing my original pieces into college on the other hand would show the texture and the feeling of the pieces more accurately. But it wouldn’t explore the idea that all art should be freely accessible.

I was only able to produce two plastic prints as they were very expensive. I decided to use the Dunboyne estate as I have easy access because my friend lives there. This influenced the second choice of estate. Presenting the paintings in Whittington would be a very similar experience. I wanted to see the difference between how the prints were treated depending on the estate. In conclusion I placed my prints in the Agar Grove estate (apparently one of the most dangerous estates in London) and the Dunboyne estate, a much more idealistic estate.

I wasn’t sure where to place the prints in the estates - whether to find a spot where everyone would see them, or place them next to their original sources. One of the difficulties I found at Agar Grove was finding a smooth surface to attach the print. I ended up placing them in spots where local people would see them as accessibility is the most important aim.

However, this precluded the idea of placing the pieces in the unusual places that inspired them. This would be visually interesting and add a sense of rarity/exclusivity. This could be seen as excluding the middle-classes from the art, an ironic concept, but one that would most likely be counterproductive.

My two final pieces - photos of art works of the estates - are presented at the end. The final test of my project will be to see how the prints are received on the estates. They already attracted some curiosity from residents when I put them up. Will they be appreciated, or seen as another patronising middle-class encroachment? Only time will tell.

Final Piece

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