Tag: #poppies

Hull City Of Culture 2017

MY CITY OF CULTURE – MY HULL – WEEK 14

by anetesoodaLeave a Comment on MY CITY OF CULTURE – MY HULL – WEEK 14

Last week I was back on track with Hull City Of Culture

This weeks highlights:

 

 

On Thursday my mission was to find the Museum of Club Culture and Mark Wigan’s exhibition [link above].

I was passing the POPPIES: WEEPING WINDOW twice and that was more than enough to take another photo of  the display – the image of setting up the artwork few weeks ago contained two photographs together. This time – to get in the display and nosy members of public, it had to be three photographs.

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I know, I know…million, trillion photos have been taken with POPPIES: WEEPING WINDOW , each photographer does something else, but I choose to be one of them and have the recording of this.

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POPPIES: WEEPING WINDOW  is one of those artworks that appeal more diverse people, people who think that art is kind of a nonsense. And the actual detail in each poppy is incredible. So well done and I wish this to become the landmark of the season two of the year long celebration.

Ferens Art Gallery and OFFSHORE: ARTISTS EXPLORE THE SEA was something that I thought I had a quick look too, whilst I am in the area. I also had a company, so I got someone cultured.

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It turns out that I have forgotten about the balcony view and the exhibition space upstairs.

By that point I was in a funny mood – I started to notice or observe the wrong things, rather than art on display…

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Sometimes being able to have laugh through lens is the key to a success  –  look at Peter Dench and Martin Parr… these two [my fave] photographers have made their career on having a little giggle about humans.

I enjoyed myself and I hope Oliver Fisher will not think I have lost the plot somewhere in Crete.

I struggled to find TRANSGLOBAL ART OF MARK WIGAN on Thursday, really annoyed by my lack of concentration on reality vs. map.
But I found it on Thursday and I got four people cultured [the fourth person is not in the photograph].

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For some unknown reason, the Museum of Club Culture has been on my radar for some time and I was super excited. AND the artist himself was there too. If Mark Wigan is reading this blog – I should have explained why I photograph his museum. ITS FOR MY BLOG :)))))

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The art was AMAZING, my cup of tea. It is a mixture between a child’s wildest fantasies and grown-up experiences. Some of them really captivating.

I would love to go again so if someone is interested to join me, please let me know.

WASHED UP CAR-GO was something that I’ve heard of but when approaching the venue, I was disappointed that I have had a false info. I went into the Deep reception to ask, to demand – I have four people expecting to see an exhibition.

But there it was, right in front of my eyes.
Three cars at the Deep car park, spread out and quite frankly – hard to spot if you don’t know what to expect.

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So clever, well though out and interesting. My not so cultural friends with a sceptical eye towards art, said that it is very cool to have such random and used-to things turned into art. I was surprised myself and it is worth spending few minutes to listen to the music and watch the short films in one of the most creative screens ever seen.

There was few obvious questions raised – has the cars have TAX ROAD AND MOT, what about insurance, if they gonna be used after display…

The last, but not least was the Fountain 17 

We walked through Humber Street and thoroughly enjoyed the local offerings into antique “crap”.

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Fountain 17  is something that was exhibited and promoted at the Degree Show 2016. I blogged about it 10 months ago, just after my graduation. At the time I really wanted to apply for the project, thinking that I can do something with the urinal, but it never happened. So I was super keen to see what the artists have done.

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NOTE: The last image is my replication of the actual use, but not sure if I had a reasonable excuse…just imagine of what my mind goes through…

 

Some of the ideas absolutely fantastic, some of them hard to relate to but still interesting art. Was super lovey to see the three prints of amazing Anna Bean, Anna is a pioneer and an artist to look up to. And another great woman – artist – lecturer Alison Field has got a very interesting interpretation of the Fountain 17

There is more displays of Fountain 17 in studio eleven, Brodrick Gallery HASAD and Humber Street Gallery which I am hoping to visit this week.

Hull City Of Culture 2017

MY CITY OF CULTURE – MY HULL – WEEK 13

by anetesoodaLeave a Comment on MY CITY OF CULTURE – MY HULL – WEEK 13

Hello,

To all who follow me every week for 13 weeks.

My challenge appears very challenging when I am away from Hull.
Whole week I spent in Greece, Crete, soaking up sun, different culture, beautiful views, hard core driving up-hill and of course Greek wine.

From the very busy and hectic week 12 of my challenge, where I took on ReRooted Festival I have left a little cheat for the 13th week.

That week was the week the POPPIES: WEEPING WINDOW installation was out for the public to view, there was a buzz around it and a lot of people taking pictures.

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That week POPPIES: WEEPING WINDOW was surrounded by too many curious eyes to be able to take a decent picture, and for those who really wanted – patiently waited for that perfect shot.
I had no time to wait, unless I am there at 10 pm on the night, right?

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Poppies mean a lot to the British which is why there are two very brave guards making sure overnight POPPIES: WEEPING WINDOW are safe.

Week 14 plan is still under construction, as I am still sulking and recovering. I feel as though I have missed out on a lot by being away all week, so I have to catch up.

But it was very lovely to come back home to HULL.

 

Hull City Of Culture 2017

MY CITY OF CULTURE – MY HULL – WEEK 11

by anetesooda1 Comment on MY CITY OF CULTURE – MY HULL – WEEK 11

Week 11 of my challenge being involved in Hull City Of Culture 2017 started off with a little panic – the work load glued me to the computer screen during the days, so how can I go out and be part of the celebration??
Also, the sudden reminder that The Blade is moving on Sunday, made me realise that the unfinished Slinkachu project must be executed this week.

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I finished off the set, little worried of how I am going to get two fragile sets in town.

My aim was to photograph these sets of Slinkachu and Hull City Of Culture 2017 [home-made] flags near The Blade. I’ll explain my reasons later in the post.

 

On Thursday however, I had a meeting in town so to be efficient, I decided that I finally want to visit HIP Gallery in Princess Quay and Hullywood Icons exhibition. There has been a lot of excitement about the exhibition, so I had to see the execution of photographs by Quentin Budworth .

Also, I got Oliver Fisher [very wise man and my accountant/marketing adviser] cultured.

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I have mixed feelings about the exhibition. First, the idea is really good, I like that local “celebs” and “known” people are involved and have been turned into these fantastic characters. The project is about Hull, about the world around us.

But then, I am slightly disappointed about the photographic and editing quality. Photographs are lacking professional quality and post-production on few are quite dreadful [like the one above]. I understand that everything is about the content and we celebrate…but everything from the idea to the end result should be 100% quality.
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Why on earth would you edit this together, if it is a lot more easier to do in real life. It is funny and a bit sad at the same time.

The other problem I had was the information about how the final photographs come together.
Instead if Quentin coming up with the idea of the movie, theme, characters and location/props, he asks to do all this to the people wanting to be part of the project and he just turns up with the camera.

The hype around the artist made me think that the whole thing is set up by the artist, I guess I just have to read in between the lines next time…

Overall, 6 out of 10. Great to see people involved and the ideas in each photograph.

Whilst in the gallery, I had a quick chat with the Creative and Cultural Company volunteers about the upcoming events, exhibitions [need to be informed at all times].

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On our way to the exhibition I approached a familiar face of a Hull City Of Culture 2017 volunteer to make sure I know the exact date/time of The Blade leaving Queen Victoria Square.

It was lovely that she remembered me from another event I went to few weeks ago. When I asked if she could spare a smile, she was more than happy to have her picture taken.
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The same Thursday morning I walked down the  Whitefriargate and Preston Likely’s Amuse Agents – Hull’s Premier Inconvenience Store

I was there on the WEEK 1  of my challenge, but I wanted to have a second look during the day.
Sometimes exhibitions and other art events have to be seen twice to have a complete understanding.

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People still stop by and have a sneaky look. Maybe because some of the posters/photos/adverts are hard to believe or are too bizarre to be true.

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The installation is very much Hull and it feels comforting in a strange way. Sense of unity and a whole…

I don’t really walk through Whitefriargate that often, the shop windows have changed. Years ago it was busy shopping area, but now it is kind of dead.

There a lot of promises given, by the looks of it, so hopefully the area will get its charm back soon.

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There is more…as I was passing the Queen Victoria Square multiple times, I was lucky to see the Roots&Routes season POPPIES: WEEPING WINDOW installation being set up.

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I was trying to get the Hull Maritime Museum in the frame, I climbed on top of the men’s loos, near the monument just opposite the building. Being there for two minutes gives me an opportunity to watch people from above and ohh, there was a few characters.

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This guy was completely from 90’s with his sunglasses/glasses – the ones that you can flop. haha.

SATURDAY.

On Saturday I neatly packed my Slinkachu sets and headed in town.

I draw a lot of attention from the public and volunteers, as they wanted to know what is going on.

One of them kindly tried to help me with the execution.

 

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Sadly there was problems.
The first one was the equipment – 24-70 mm 2.8 and 85 mm 1.8 did not cope with the small set.
My phone camera [Huawei Leica] did a much better job.
I will have to get my hands on a macro lens to be able to photograph this properly. In the past I have tried Slinkachu technique, but with much bigger figures, so I was kind of expecting the failure, but hoped that I will find a compromise.

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The reason why I wanted to create this is to express how I feel around The Blade – I feel small and being put on a scale. The Blade is fascinating piece of structure [art now] and no one can pass it without feeling something.

I also struggled to position the set, so that it looks like real life [the whole idea behind Slinkachu], I was even on my knees in the square.

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The plan did not work, but I have kept the sets and will find a way how to make this work.
I also have another set for a attraction point in Hull, so keep your eyes out for that.

 

SUNDAY.

 

On Sunday I walked down to Humber Street Market. My purpose was to photograph a lovely family business BLOSSOM’S BAKERY stall and try their gluten free, vegan cakes and other sweet things.

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Such a lovely lady/family, everything made with love and I wish them the best luck in succeeding.

Off course, I spent a bit more time and money in the market.
But I have to say, that Hull now has a regular socialising place and if you are super bored at home, you have an opportunity to get out and do something.

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Last but not least, I visited the Female Gaze exhibition at the Kingston Art Group Gallery and spent QUALITY TIME with Anna Bean.
She got me and Melanie THE KID cultured, along with other artists featured in the exhibition. We chatted about the meaning of female gaze, about narcissism and how complicated art can be.

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As you can see I have been here, there and everywhere, bringing you the most random combination of Hull City Of Culture 2017 so far.

Until writing the finishing lines to this post, I did not realise how much I’ve managed to pack in this week.

I will see you next week with more exciting stuff.

Love

Anete Sooda