CHATWIN : MARTIN

Residency at Beaconhouse National University

CHATWIN : MARTIN

HAT RESIDENCY - SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS
BEACONHOUSE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
LAHORE
PAKISTAN

OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2006

INTRODUCTION

We would like to introduce ourselves by delivering two presentations/lectures open to all departments within the School of Visual Arts at Beaconhouse National University:

Colour, Form and Lamination
To cover the development of our vessels and jewellery for exhibition using dyed and laminated sycamore veneer as a medium. This work is positioned within the context of the post-industrial Crafts Revival signalled by the formation of the UK Crafts Council.

Art, Science and the Environment
To cover the departure within our partnership from object-based activity to large-scale wall-based work expressing our continued interest in how the understanding of the natural world affects our lives. Working for several years across cultural boundaries in close collaboration with natural scientists, namely entomologists and geophysicists, has opened up a new world of discovery, which forms the background to our ongoing research into environmental issues and the framework for our research at Beaconhouse National University.

We look forward to the opportunity of informal interaction with staff and students throughout the residency.

OBJECTIVES

• The overall objective of the research will be to observe, record and respond to the biodiversity within the environment of the region to discover a ‘sense of place’.
• By interaction with artists and academics at Beaconhouse National University, traditional art and craft communities, and consulting with natural scientists, and conducting fieldwork, our research will fall in to the following categories:

The relationship with our environment
‘In the field’ field trips to record through the use of photography, notation and drawing the biodiverse nature of the region.
To consult with entomologists and conservationists about the biodiversity of the region, and to identify suitable environments for study:
(i) Rural landscape – to visit national parks and natural reserves (Bahawalpur and the Lal Suhanra National Park are possibilities)
(ii) Urban landscape – to visit parks, university campuses, gardens, the Botanical Gardens.

Questioning our working methods and use of materials
Recent developments in our work involve moving away from the use of wood veneer as a means of expression to digital composite images for inclusion in future exhibitions. The residency will provide the opportunity to re-assess this move in light of the introduction to new materials, new images and working methods.

The work space
As a starting point we intend to create an environment that collates ever-changing visual material which reflects ‘a sense of place’ in a culture new to us by displaying fieldwork information, photography, drawing, notation and computer generated images. Practical methods will be developed through collaging, dyeing, gluing, rubbings, application of colour by working with existing materials, and new materials obtained from our location.

Contemporary and traditional art and craft
We are very interested in seeing contemporary art activity within different departments at Beaconhouse, and would welcome the opportunity to discuss with the academic staff and practitioners their own concepts and working methods.

Our interest also extends to local art and craft activity, both contemporary and traditional, and their methods and images.

Our latest work involves the depiction and perception of landscape. This is a subject we would like to explore in the Art of Pakistan through visits to museums, the use of the university library and other resources.

Peter CHATWIN : Pamela MARTIN

www.sixchapelrow.com
www.ysp.co.uk

Click on image to open QuickTime movie

"ARTIST'S TALK"

Peter Chatwin and Pamela Martin talk to conference during cHAT week at Sanskriti, Delhi, India. March 2007