Research

Final Masters project – Temporal fiction

This project explored the relentlessness of time, as well as our individual experiences of time using reading as a conceptual metaphor. Through a series of reading challenges, it was hoped that the audience would reflect on their own experience of time and how this affects their lives. By exploring the links between reading and life, some of the experiments aimed to highlight the consequences of not taking action in our lives, which can lead to a state of atrophy. Ordinarily, time within the act of reading is controlled by the reader – how long they take to read a page, when they choose to read and how long they read for in total. However, in this project, the control of time was taken away from the reader, creating a somewhat warped experience.

The series of experiments explored traditional and contemporary reading methods, looking at digital and print-based texts. All texts used within this project have a strong connection to time and / or the work of philosopher Henri Bergson, whose ideas about the differences between time and duration formed the basis for my investigation.

It is perplexing that we have to ‘make time’ to read, and as a result it often feels like a luxury when we allow ourselves these brief moments of respite in our hectic daily schedules. Some people experience joy and a sense of escapism during these periods of time, while others are plagued by a sense of guilt, a feeling that they should be doing something ‘more important’.

The experiments were:

Experiment 1: Punctuation system

What is it7
A punctuation system implementing a range of numbers5 The numbers are open to the interpretation of the reader2 they could perhaps denote a length of time3 a value3 an order of importance3 or a pattern5

What does it represent7
When I started thinking about time and reading3 I started researching some technical aspects of grammar and speech and how this can affect the timing of a piece of writing5 Then I realised that one of the main roles of punctuation is to control the pace of the piece5 In the act of considering the numbering punctuation system3 the reader is slowed and may even stop3 which almost mirrors the original job of punctuation5

Experiment 2: Interactive book

What is it?
An interactive book specifically designed for iPad. If left unread, the pages continue to appear creating a backlog of words. Although, if the reader engages with the text, they can continue on as normal.

What does it represent?
Inactivity can lead to backlogs within our lives. Putting things off can seem like the easy option at the time but can lead to more work in the long run. This experiment is a comment on time’s relentless nature and whether we decide to actively engage with it or not, it continues incessantly. Our experiences of time can vary greatly depending on our level of participation.

Experiment 3: Screen type

What is it?
An animation featuring kinetic typography. The timing varies throughout the piece, sometimes almost imperceptibly and at other times more explicitly, creating an unpredictable, uneasy reading experience.

What does it represent?
This piece not only abstracts the act of reading but the use of different clock and watch sound effects aims to heighten the frustration or anxiety felt by the reader. This piece aims to make the reader uncomfortable, encouraging them to reflect on other experiences in their lives where time has marched on at an alarming rate or painfully dragged its heels.

Experiment 4: Self-turning book

What is it?
A book that turns itself at random. At first glance it seems to be an ordinary book on a stand, but it has hidden depths. The book is controlled by an Arduino attached to a motor.

What does it represent?
The idea behind this was it would turn itself at random, thus instilling a sense of panic and frustration in the reader. They never know when the page might turn and are therefore pressured to read as quickly as possible. It highlights the unpredictable nature of time which can take us by surprise.

 

Book fairs

I have previously created work that was exhibited at the PAGES International Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair 2016 at The Tetley, in Leeds as well as the Bristol Artist’s Book Event (BABE) 2017 at the Arnolfini, in Bristol. My books tend to focus on the use of bold imagery and colours, challenging form and structure whilst maintaining delicate hierarchies of typography. All books are hand-crafted with careful attention to detail.