Five days before the week of my art display, I began to make the 'skin'. I rolled out sheets of greaseproof paper onto a wooden floor, to a size of roughly 6x8 feet, and then poured liquid latex on to it. Using a palette knife, I spread the liquid latex across the paper, making sure it was the same thickness all over, and leaving some lines for texture. I then left the latex to dry over night. In the morning, I checked it had worked by peeling off a corner to check it didn't tear or break. I then began to paint the latex. Using five different shades of foundation to avoid the sheet being one block colour and to add some varying tones, I painted the latex with a foundation brush and blended it well to avoid patchiness. I then used setting powder and spray to make sure the foundation would stick, and to matte it a bit. I left the latex over the weekend to dry fully.
In hindsight, this was the perfect method to make the skin and I am glad I started five days early instead of doing it the day before. This is because at first, I encountered a few problems. I didn't have enough greaseproof paper, and I wasn't sure if I would have enough liquid latex and foundation. Beginning so many days before the deadline meant I could rectify these issues by buying more material. It also meant that if there had been a problem during the process of making it, I would have enough time to sort it out. For example if the latex had dried too thinly and would rip upon being peeled off the paper; or if the foundation hadn't dried well and would smudge and wipe off when being handled. However, after the weekend had passed the latex and the colour applied to it was exactly how I needed it to be, which I was really pleased about.
With the help of a friend, I transported all my materials to my booked exhibition space. I took more than I needed just to be sure, because I knew that things would change on the day, as my vision of actually artwork came to life. I transported the latex rolled in the paper - it was important that I did not peel it off until it was needed, because the more it is handled, the more it shrinks, tears, folds and sticks. In hindsight, it was great that I made such a large sheet of skin, because once peeled off the paper, it halved in size. When ready, I draped the skin over two chairs, placing a table and screen, for my film, in the middle. In my head, I had planned for the piece to be much bigger and had not considered how limp and thinly the latex would hang. I had planned to hang photos from the underside of the skin, as if it would be more like walls of a cave. However, this was not the case, and hanging photos would have put too much weight on the fragile skin. Despite this, I liked the way the skin appeared so thin, limp and vulnerable. The holes and folds that appeared as it was peeled from the paper gave it a deteriorated, damaged effect. Therefore, instead of hanging my photographs, I decided to lay them on the floor beneath the 'tent'. I also attached them to the front of the table, which worked well because it helped to hide the wood and meant the whole art piece merged into one continuous layer of skin colours.
At first, I was very apprehensive about setting up my art piece. I was nervous about doing it in a space frequently passed through by students and staff, afraid of them judging it as they saw it. I was also worried that it would not look good or that I would be embarrassed about the outcome. However, once I began to set it up, I realised that no art display is ever perfect. It will always change and develop as it is being created, and usually this is for the best. But most importantly, even if the artist themselves is never content with it, art is all about interpretation. My friend who helped me set up stated that she really liked it, and particularly the disturbing sound effects in the film; and a couple of passers-by stopped to look at the artwork or made surprised/disgusted noises at the fake skin. This did not offend me as it was exactly the effect I wanted to inflict upon viewers since the start: discomfort, shock and disgust, but also intrigue, awe and understanding.
Credits:
Director: Sophie
Baylis
Director of
Photography and Camera Operator: Joe
Potts
Photographers: Victoria Cook, Sophie Baylis
Film Editor: Sophie
Baylis
Models: Jake Morter, Chiara Borgonovo, Femi
Omotoso, Zhané Quashie
Throughout my display week, I encountered a few problems. First, the audio: I had asked the School Executive Officer if it would be okay for my film to have audio playing in the HC building, with the concern that it might be distracting for students. She confirmed that it should be fine as long as it wasn't too loud, and as the audio was white noise, it would hardly be noticed from within classrooms. However, once I set up the display, the audio wouldn't work. Luckily, I was in contact with an IT expert from the university who was quick to come and help me whenever I needed. We managed to fix the audio and make sure the volume was just right. I didn't use speakers as I felt that the volume the monitor achieved on its own was loud enough.
My second problem was that when I came back to check on my work throughout the week, the computer had been switched off. I had been told by both the School Executive Officer and the IT Technicians that my film would be fine to play continuously on a loop for the entire week, to save me from arriving each morning to turn it on and each evening to turn it off again. However, unfortunately I think the cleaners had switched it off at the wall as they cleaned. This meant that for quite a long time in between my visits, the art display had not been complete and fully functioning. I was very upset and embarrassed about this as I felt that without the film playing, the piece lost a lot of its effectiveness. With the help of an IT Technician, I got the film up and running again. He assured me that he would let the cleaners know again not to switch off the computer, and I also left a few signs next to the computer and the plug sockets stating 'Do not turn off!' along with a mobile number for anyone to call if they felt there was a problem and it needed to be muted or switched off.
Unfortunately, upon my next visit to check on my work, it had happened again, despite my signs asking for it to remain switched on. This time I felt even more disappointed, angry and embarrassed. I emailed the School Executive Officer for advice and she assured me that she would check on my work herself when she could and also contact the cleaners again about it. The problem was, as it was a university computer and monitor, it required a password that I was not able to know - it had to be set up by an IT Technician. So each time I checked on it and it had been turned off, I didn't want to keep bothering the IT department for help. I thought it would probably happen again and again and as I didn't know for sure who was turning it off, I had no sure way of preventing it. Therefore, as it was nearing the end of the week, I decided to dismantle my work anyway. I had already captured pictures of the work and received feedback from peers, other students and family, so I felt that it had achieved enough of a response for me to be content with it.
I feel upset and angry that my display week had not gone to plan as I had imagined it would, even despite my efforts to fix and prevent the problems. I also feel embarrassed when I think of any of the viewers who saw it while it was not complete and working. However, I think it still had an effect and am glad it was working for at least a couple of the days it was on display.
