Fredy Decisive

"CONFESSIONS IS A PUBLIC ART PROJECT THAT INVITES PEOPLE TO ANONYMOUSLY SHARE THEIR CONFESSIONS AND SEE THE CONFESSIONS OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM IN THE HEART OF THE LAS VEGAS STRIP."

http://fredydecisive.tumblr.com/post/47784254584/confessions-is-a-public-art-project-that-invites 

First reaction to the installation: This is brilliant!

This is the kind of art which reminds me why I want to study an art degree for the next three years.  It gets people involved in the most personal way possible, by sharing their secrets.  Some of the confessions are humorous such as 'I eat too much cheese', but others are simply heartbreaking, 'I still love her.  2 girlfriends and 5 years later...' - I feel that many people can relate to these.  As people are allowed to post their confessions anonymously on the pegged wall, you may find that they have been a lot more honest than they would have been if they had to sign their name to it - like you would have to on social media.  I think it is interesting that people are will to confess anything as people can still leaf through the wall and read everything that has been posted.

 I like how the confessions are all written onto pieces of wood, that way the confessions cannot be erased or edited as easily as they would be online.  This makes them a physical problem, now part of the real world and not just a thought in our minds.   Something has to be said for the colour though.  Is it stereotypically red to symbol sin? I feel the overall appearance is somewhat church-like, especially with the addition of the confession booths.  A spanish quote is given at the top of the website I pulled these images from;

"Dicen que se la escapa la incoherencia de las manos, que se le caen los sueños cuando pasa. Que espera decidir pronto, entre quien es, y quien pretende ser." - I think the first bit means something along the lines that you can escape the inability (incoherence) of your hands in your dreams. In other words it's easier to draw/paint in ur dreams than in real life.  The second half seems to be criticising and saying that you must decide who you are and who you want to be , and do it quickly.  I think it has some truth in it as people often find it easier to write down their hope, dreams and deepest desire than vocally put them out there for people to judge and scrutinise.  

Charlie Billingham

I have recently become interested in using True Grain.  Charlie Billingham is creating pieces using True Grain as he wants to stay true to his painting technique and not producing anything which has been digitally altered.  I love the effect True Grain produces as it gives feeling to the work, a sort of rough texture which the viewer can appreciate.  You don't use True Grain by mistake as when you paint or print with it, the work achieves a sort of grainy, almost scratched look which would always be intentional.  I think it works particularly well with Charlie's piece as it emphasises the real effort and strain put in behind the dancers he is painting.  You can feel the emotion pouring from the image.

Ingo Maurer Zettel

'German born artist and light objects designer, ingo maurer has been the recipient of many design awards and his work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including the museum of modern art in new york. considered an outsider with rare artistic style, ingo maurer adds provocation and fun to the world of design'

http://www.unicahome.com/p9219/ingo-maurer/zettelz-by-ingo-maurer.html

This breathtaking, independently suspended chandelier was created by Ingo Maurer.  It is a mixture of art and sculpture.  Ingo adds some love letters in different languages in order to inspire the owner to participate.  He uses Japanese paper to for a translucent medium so that there will be different lighting effects created depending what piece of paper the light hits.  49 blank pages are left for the owner to style the light as they desire, making it personal to them.  What would you write on your lamp?  Recipes, love letters, confessions, memories, shopping lists; the possibilities are endless.  

The letters are easily attached using thins wires and clips so as not to take away from the delicate nature of the lighting fixture.  I believe the wires are arranged in such a fashion so as to give the impression of a chandelier.  It is  definitely an alternative version but I think it looks beautiful.  The main aim of this piece is getting the viewer involved in art and poetry, and I think it works. 

Admit One stub box

I came across this image on Pinterest and unfortunately I have been unable to find the name of the designer.  I can see from close observation that the papers inside the box are all tickets from events such as concerts, football matches and cinema viewings.  There may also be a few wristbands in there from nightclubs.  I suppose this box could represent what you have taken part in during the last year or so in terms of socialising events.  It could also act as a kind of memory box, even though you can't see all the places you've been, you know the ticket are in the box somewhere, sort of like how you brain hold memories.  

I can imagine this piece on a wall in public places (shopping centre, restaurant, sidewalk) that way it would become a city memory box.  It could be great for tourism by showing how many events they have to offer, however the same stub could end up in there twice.  I could also see this piece mounted on your bedroom wall.  Instead of a picture wall or a shoebox under your bed, this could be on display to see whenever you want as a physical reminder; it's not an ugly looking box either!  I think I can assume that this piece was created in order to get people more involved in doing things, because when you don't participate you can't fill the box with anything.