From the initial pitches last week, I received some advice/ feedback and have been thinking about the following:
I should avoid telling an elaborate story: revise the idea of a secondary character - this could potentially become a more abstract motif/ visual metaphor
Focus on one aspect such as skin & wrinkles, grey hair...
How can the story unfurl itself; make sure to trust the audience
Could I talk to older women about their experiences or their relationship with their bodies? Maybe these conversations could characterise the narrative.
Jared has referred me to his dad, who has made a lot of paper!
I was also encouraged to check out: Thea Hollatz's 'Hot Flash' (I can't find it online!), 'Felix in Exile' by William Kentridge (I like his work - it's very evocative, maybe a bit too gloomy for me) and 'Acceptable Face' by Holly Summerson.
I broached the subject of ageing with my Granny on FaceTime this week. She laughed and said she didn't think she'd be very good to chat to... I think otherwise!
She did let slip some telling phrases though, which are I suppose slightly clichéd (but probably for a reason) - she said "I don't care about that anymore" [on wearing makeup and her appearance - mainly due to the whole lockdown situation]. And, "who's that old lady in the corner?" [her bemusement at her catching herself in the video window].
We didn't dwell on the subject, and I could definitely ask again; she has quite insightful things to say!
This random Shrigley really speaks to me:
I did think if I wanted to go down a route of illustration/ animating to people's accounts or recorded voices then I could talk to the women in my family: my sister, my mum, my aunties and my gran. An idea.
I also attended Nica Harrison's online talk with Leicester Print Workshop and found it valuable to hear of her process and the idea of letting of control through her printmaking process (I guess there are parallels with my idea). She also mentioned 'Manchester Paper Festival' next year. Which will be worth thinking about!
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