Finding a theme

Time to get stuck in to the real meat and potatoes of this unit, our book brief. Again following the telling an untold story ideal, we were told to create imagery for a 12-16 paged saddle stitch or concertina book. Outside of this we were given a few suggestions for ideas to follow, but outside of this, we could research whatever we wanted, as long as it was based on a location, and the outcome was generated of the findings whilst there.

Early stages I toyed with a few ideas, thinking of either visiting the Bradford media museum, or a swimming baths. I had an interest in the media museum because of its video game related collection, and being quite well versed in the subject would have easily been able to collate something fun to work on. The swimming baths would have been trickier to approach, with little to no opportunity for photography to be taken, but I was certain that working from observations made during the visit would offer quite an interesting outcome.

Almost deciding upon the swimming baths, the unexpected happened, I was told that my grandparents were moving house. This was strange to me considering they had lived there for as long as I’ve been fannying around on this earth, and I had spent every single summer half term there, this was my place of escape being sold. With this I decided I would like to visit the old place for one last time and could find something to work from in London whilst visiting.

Research trip: London

My first instinct was to work whilst traveling on the tube, taking in the various characters and happenings, drawing rough representations of them and making notes. This didn’t amount to much as I must admit, I don’t really give a damn about the tube, I don’t find it especially interesting or awkward as many would describe it to be, it’s a bit of a nothing experience for me, I guess that comes with growing up using the system. Reaching central London, I took touristy photos but just didn’t feel like it would amount to anything worthwhile. With this I relocated to my grandparents home.

Tube Imagery

 And Central London

 Finding a direction

 Feeling a bit lost my plan was to research locations online that I could travel to the next day, but when I got to the house I found that my grandparents needed help with moving their various belonging in preparation for the move. It was whilst moving the items and talking of the memories attached to them that I had been a colossal idiot, the house itself would be location that I would use, telling a very personal untold story.

I started by painting two family heirlooms found during the process and making a note of their significance, carrying on from hereon out making notes of the various stories given by my grandparents on our family history and the current happenings in their lives.

Heir loom no1: Rolls razor 

This item belonged to my grans father, its a razor that could be re sharpened using its own case, i found it to be still sharp, having cut myself on the bugger.

The box contained this great set of illustrated instructions, man, they just don't make them like they used to.

Also within the container i found a letter written by my great grandfather requesting a smaller home with central heating, as they were struggling to keep their home warm. There must have also been a struggle dealing with the home itself as the letter stops on a bit of a heartbreaker for myself, as he explains to the landlord that he has arteritis in his back and that there is no cure. I can see by the way he includes this fact that he was a prideful man, opting not to use it as his primary reason for the move, leaving it as a side note. I know that my great grandmother also suffered arthritis in multiple ares of her body, i guess that was just a by product of the strains of the time. Our instructions might not be fully illustrated, but at least we don't have to push our bodies to extremes to get by.

What if i use the location itself?

Moving on in the process it struck me that i could use the location itself as my imagery, with this i decided to photograph each and every room for possible future use.

                     

Collection of notes and doodles made on the trip

Starting with the tube doodles, and continuing to family stories.

Spending time with the family

Luckily for me my Aunty had decided to visit that weekend, meaning i got to spend time with more of my family, getting to see my youngest cousin, San-Jin. Its a bit generic to say he's getting bigger all the time, but i will admit he is one adorable little bugger. Another story related to a family object is when one day he noticed a little last supper ornament, admired it for a while taking it all in, then decided to pinch above the food items and drop imaginary portions in to each and every person in the rooms hands. He decided to bring out his little golf set and hit his ball across the room, demanding a high five from everyone when he made a shot, which was every couple of seconds.

Ill top off the trip write up with these incredible ear rings, i mean, check them out, they're fucking incredible! I brought them to my grans attention and she was quick to dismiss them, saying someone must have bought them for her.

This was a great visit, and a perfect way to say goodbye to the place, i'm glad that i could find a reason within my project to include it.