Make a list of or create a mind map of the key moments of your studies from each part. What was the most significant realisation from the unit? Has it met your expectations?
Assignment 1:
GOING BACK TO MY ROOTS
Reflecting on the brief about the past, the present and the future, I decided to dig into history look at the present and use the findings to think a bit about the future. The point of my interest, inspired by my previous work (exercise 1 alternative forms) is my place of origin: Thessaloniki and the story of Jews who perished in the holocaust. A song discovery half in Greek, half in Hebrew, epitomised the multiple layers of the story and gave a lot to think about and be inspired by.
Greek Lyrics:
My sweet Thessaloniki
my glorious homeland
when will the time come
for us to live united?
And to tell you
about the suffering, I had over there
in Poland’s dark shallow streets,
at Birkenau day and night.
Assignment 2:
The key moment in that assignment was lesson 6
Place and Memory
It was a nostalgic reflection where I had to remember how it felt to live and walk in the streets of my home city.
Watch the sunset on the harbour.
make a sketch of the sea front
another key moment was about ecopoetry:
were I had to to experiment with words, shapes and forms.
our orchids
We keep some orchids in our kitchen. They are gorgeous, evergreen plants with flowers that last for a long time. Seeing them standing there is a great feeling, beautiful, healthy, full of life. They want nothing from us just some water occasionally and direct sunlight. In return, they give us everything: their whole presence is a celebration of beauty, a celebration of life.
A few months ago, we bought another one. Unfortunately, we didn’t make space next to the window but left it in a more shady place and forgot about it; We had to get on with our daily routines and the flowers in our kitchen with their own lives.
Our little orchid began to wither. It gradually shed all the flowers and it stood there, miserable with faded leaves. A cacophony among the beauty of the others.
One day we realised that matter. We placed the plant in the sunlight and the miracle happened before our eyes within a week: the orchid paid our little world back by blossoming again!
Assignment 3:
my manifestos
Melancholia is based on an ancient Greek term. It comes from the complexity of ”Melas”, meaning black, and ”Choli”, which is the intestines or (in New Greek) the bile. This means when you are unhappy about something, your inner self turns black, rotten, and dies.
Everybody has their sad times, but when I’m using disciplines of any kind to express myself, that melancholia disappears, leaving me with a sense of achievement, a moment of personal triumph.
From a young age, I discovered that being creative is moving a burden off me and taking the clouds of my soul away. I have chosen a creative path, but something always needed to be added until I found OCA, which is taking me on a marvellous journey.
I find writing poetry quite soothing.
Photography with a comment on the side, the way I see and interpret the world around me, also thrills me.
Textiles are always there for me to lose myself in a creative delirium.
My goal is to express myself.
I aim to find ways to get deeper inside me and take as much as possible.
My goal is to leave art to take me on a lifetime journey.
My goal is to feel free and happy.
Assignment 4:
Exploring the outcomes of exercise two, I got involved in an engaging loop of conclusions that I felt very affiliated with. My research was about stories, language, and ancient Greece: themes that engage my interest because of my heritage. To my great surprise, after all the years of academic work, I still find them an infinite pool of inspiration and case studies. The unknown Greek storytellers of the Greek classical times and the era before are, to a matter of tragic irony, the unsung heroes of their own lives. Even though their lives play a minor role in their rhapsodies, they have passed to the generations to follow theirs, a lively tradition of heroic times where their protagonists were the main criterion of the ideal life.
The song of Seikillos, written for his late wife in the language of the great lyricists, is always pleasant to listen to. The whole context of the Seikilos love story, even though it is sad to read about, is about enjoying life. Twenty centuries have passed since it was born, but it is still thrilling and engaging.
This is probably how Rhapsodists sounded like.
Finally, the idea that people in the world we live in today are still talking about the language Homer and his ancestors were communicating with is thrilling.
It is worth mentioning not only as a matter of tradition and language but as a heritage of a civilisation that thrived and brought the Western world a spirit that still thrives today.
Assignment 5:
Assignment 5 was the beginning of the study of Helen of Troy.
THE TERRIBLE DEATHLESS BEAUTY
As we get into the immortalising battle ——- We are singing full of joy
us the sons of Troy,———————–in strong shiny armour
being brave and proud, ——————–facing enemies, in millions
We fight for the Ilion,——————— defying the old ferryman’s duty
We fight for beauty ———————–for the terrible deathless beauty.
The stake is high————————-It is not God’s forbidden
Our destined fate is already written———-to fight for beauty
What a remarkable duty——————-is blessed and high
to be doomed and die——————— the old ferryman’s duty daring to defy
for the terrible deathless beauty————-for this terrible deathless beauty.
Reflection:
The above interlocking poem ( it can be read in various ways) is an experimental work of fusion and fantasy. I’m trying to capture the feeling of someone fighting to conquer (or keep) something unique and of high value because Helen has been considered as such.
Beauty is the supreme pursuit of art. Trying to achieve it is the ultimate challenge. So, like the Trojan fighters, who are ready to defend beauty with their lives, artists are spending their own to preserve their right to achieve it.
The ferryman (Charon in ancient Greece) was the fear of death. The Trojans in my poem march without fear of it because they have immortal beauty on their side. Because a work of art, a masterpiece of beauty never dies; It stands there to be admired and to inspire.
Helen of Troy is different to everyone. The sound of beauty hits a contrasting note to every single one. The men of Ilion(Troy) are paving the path.
Achieve beauty: This is the path to eudaimonia.
My goal through my studies is to capture the feeling of creating something beautiful for my eyes. Helen’s beauty inspired me to do so.
Assignment 6:
On assignment 6, after my tutor’s encouragement, I created a mind map where I had the realisation of what I wanted to do, what intrigues me and the types of disciplines I can use to achieve my goals.
as a result, I created the drawings and sketches regarding the story of Helen.
Assignment 7:
Assignment 7 was about testing boundaries were I made a connection between sculpture, cad drawing and knitting.
I found affinity to the ancient Greek masks
and the work of Pablo Picasso.
Assignment 8:
reflection and motivations
When an art student reflects on the motifs of why they study, their drives and their goals, they should consider a few facts: art is, first and, above all, fun to do. Working on projects that provide catharsis and healing is so much fun and pleasure.
My engagement with Creative Arts started five years ago. There were many reasons for me to choose this path in my life.
My love of elegance comes in the most spectacular form: as a creative art student, I’m so obsessed with beauty to such an extent that I intend to create artefacts to worship it. It helps me express myself and satisfies me with growth and accomplishment.
At the same time, my studies give me countless reasons to look and look again for answers to my life-challenging questions and paths to lose myself in. When, after a while, I emerge out of this artistic nirvana, I realise that I am wiser but also fulfilled.
This journey is lonesome and hard. There is sometimes false recognition of my work where the messages through my workpieces are not communicated properly.
It is challenging to accept this fact, and finding alternatives to tackle that matter is even more complex. But that is a very welcome part of a challenge because it helps me develop skills that will help me grow and evolve. I realise now that I’m walking in Kavafi’s footsteps. In search of my Ithaca, I am learning so many valuable skills that I wish my epic-scale adventure were still full of discovery and knowledge. It will be as long as it still gives me the pleasure of getting into new harbours, experiencing and trying unique perfumes, and pleasuring spices. As Kavafi suggests, I understand what these Ithacas mean: I embrace and enjoy the journey, waiting for the next challenge to emerge.
Assignment 9:
inspired by previous work and my research,
reflecting on the map that includes philosophy,
I moved further into my study and created a yin and yang CAD.
I also explored more the connection between sketch drawing, textiles, CAD creation, and canvas drawing. There were a lot of surprises and a fruitful outcome.
Assignment 10:
Assignment 10 was all about reflection on the work I have created as well as the feedback of my tutor. My main goal was to write a case study and make a connection between my previous work and Helen of Troy which was my primary focus. I found that essay writing very rewarding because it gave me the confidence to use the English language more, as well as develop my thoughts in an academic way.
During the course, I found myself thoroughly enjoying every aspect of it. One of my most significant realisations was the sheer power of art as a tool for self-expression and communication. It was fascinating to see how different artists used various mediums to convey their messages and emotions to their audiences since antiquity. Throughout the course, I was also able to make significant connections between the past and the present, which helped me understand the evolution of art over the centuries. Moreover, I had the opportunity to explore and interact with new art disciplines and create pieces were one art form overlaps the other. This study broadened my knowledge and perspective on the subject matter. The course exceeded my expectations in many ways. I learned a lot about the history of art and its various forms, and I also got to express my creativity by creating my art pieces. This experience was incredibly fulfilling as I could apply the techniques and knowledge I learned throughout the course to make something unique and personal.
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