Graded

I got a B11 or a B- I suppose.
It's in the 2-1 degree bracket so woooo!

Asessment

Today!
Wish me luck.
I just started getting scared :/

Next time you're at the supermarket and you hear the

"BEEP"


think of the fun you could be having on supermarket sweep.

Beep is now my title.

Artists Statement

This piece of work developed from an interest in issues within society mainly those concerned with surveillance and identity. I began with looking at methods of surveillance concentrating on fingerprints as a form of identification and a way to monitor us and I then moved onto thinking of these as natural barcodes. This then progressed into making a comment on the consumerist society in which we live. I began to create barcodes of my own taking influence from Marcus Harvey and DNA11 initially then Scott Blake and Barnard Solco who are both barcode artists. We are all consumers and within this piece there are names of friends and family coded into the numbers using predictive text. The first eight lines of the barcodes are not fully coded some fragments of names can be found by the viewer within the first few bars of the barcode including several celebrities. Gradually after this point, from left to right, the numbers become complete codes and full names begin to appear. I used the internet as a tool in this work using the social networking site Facebook to ask people for their permission to use their name within the work, by using this I felt I could explore another aspect of the media by which was are consumed. By also using predictive text I am asking people to defy the tradition that mobile phones must not be used in a gallery/exhibition and in turn defy society’s conformity, through consumerism we are all the same, we buy the same products, like the same food etc thus we have become a commodity. I felt that these elements would combine to allow there to be an indication of the type of society in which we live as we are consumed by celebrities, material objects, certain products/brands and the media. The piece allows a viewer to become consumed by the hypnotic nature of the barcodes and also by finding out the information hidden within the coded numbers. All of the barcodes and numbers are hand drawn and it took over twenty four hours to draw all the barcodes and numbers. This piece consumed many things from me, taking my time and thoughts away from other issues within my own personal life. I chose to hand draw the bar codes to experience how it would feel to be consumed by something. This reflects the part of my personality which can be obsessive and is most evident within my art practice. I felt that this method was more appropriate than any type of printing method which I felt would be the easier, less consuming option. It also allows there to be a more human element to the barcodes allowing a connection between the clinical, structured nature of barcodes and the messy, emotional nature of society due to mistakes made by me such as drawing the wrong or too many numbers in a name. There is a juxtaposition of structure and chaos within the work.


Does it make sense?

Title

I need a title any suggestions?

27 lines on the wall

Congratulations

You are all barcodes

Charlotte Trimm

Rob Giles

Simon Lawson

Matthew Newton

Emily Twissell

Jackie Chan

Matt Allen

James Brian

Carly Evans

Cerian Price

Ema Elizabeth Oliver

Jessica Gardiner

Rhys Jenkins

Tom Ketteringham

Carly Llewellyn

Ellie Davis

Elliot Blake

Sian Louise Griffiths

Maria Walker

Laura Jane Morgan

Christian Wynne

Alex Bowdery

John Joseph Edwards

Amber Weeks

Michael James Walker

Simon Christopher Bull

Carwyn Samuel Gwilym Llewellyn

Susan Turner

Hollie Hines

Adam James Suter

Hannah Webley

Lucy Criddle

Helen Carpenter

Emily Payne

Emily Rendall

Richie Vee

Kirsty Gardiner-Hale

Helen Patsalides Luiz Alexandre Lafayette Stockler

Jessica Yarrow

Ross Powles

Mint Newsham

Matthew Aaron Ashcroft

Karina Young

Hywel Thomas

Louise Phillips

Luke Jason Edwards

Laura Brosnan

Stevee Louise Adams

Lucy Camilla Ibbitson

Aaran Thomas Lewis

Bethan Williams

Megan Hoggins

Matthew Sellwood

Jody James

Craig James

Lavinia Drake

Bridie Wood

Benjamin Fitzharris

Chris Brown

Nathan Anderson-Davis

James Rodger

Paul Agland

Sian Lamrick

Tabitha Lynn Greig

Damieon Cunningham

Rachael Brown

Tasha Pinkett

Natalie Gibbs

Christopher Daniel Holdsworth Starkie

Kate Brown

Roisin Chadwick

Jessica Donalson

Lucy Strickland

Jonathan Watkins

Alexa Osowski

Grace Hermione Willding

Shelley Harris

Stephen Brown

Paul Benjamin Eversley

Sadie Helen Young

Emma-Lou Evans

Christine Trimm

Royston Trimm

Cassie Gardiner-Hale

Stephanie Powell

Tom Horton

Joanne Elizabeth Wheeler

Charlie Phillips

Jessica Platt

Jade Pendre

Ben Aldous

Robbie Higgins

Joanna Roden

Claire Smith

Rhianon Trimm

Jack Thomas James Davies

Luke Winnel

Kayleigh Stevens

Sheena Lewis

Vickie Chung

Hannah James

Jonathan Robbins

Rhiannon Louise Edwards

Sean Hurley

Louise Mcgruer

Sara Louise Brean

Ryan Cuerden

Rachel Campbell

Jenny Davies

Will Fredric Alfonso Gray

Keir James Thomas

Jessie Kimber

Richard Marlow

David Irwin

Lilo Peachy

Clare Wrench

Sophie Gingell

Julie Natasha Howells

Lydia Kempson

Beth Sarah Goodenough

Danielle Phillips

Anne-Marie Collins

Laura Elstone

Paul Denmead

Matt Shuttleworth

Jade Luisa Bowyer

Thomas Cox

Sarah-Jane Ellis

Amy Dibble

Cerys Pontin

Carla Rees

Jenny Hatcher

Chris Hopkins

Jason Plummer

Jack Bauer (a special homage to 24 because I watched a season and a half whilst doing this work)

Apparently that 136 names.

Names

I finished drawing all my names!
Just the random lines left to finish.
Only tomorrow left to install everything.
I'll be done.
Promise.

Nearly There

Assessment in 2 days.
Personal statement half done.
16 lines up on the wall.
12 lines left to finish and install.
Sketchbook needs finishing.
Nearly there.

Blog is good though :)

Installing

17 lines

I've done 17 lines of barcodes.
I went to the pub earlier because I had to get away.
Totally consumed by the barcodes I am drawing.

First Full Page of Numbers

1 down 3 to go

Bad Back

I'm hurting my back doing this beacuse I'm hunching over it.
It's worth the pain though.

5 lines done lots to go!

Not enough Names

I've figured out that I probably won't get permission from enough people to use their names.I don't want to use peoples names without their permission and I don't want to make names up.
So I'm making lines of random numbered barcodes.
I plan to display them progressing from random numbers into the numbers which are coded names.
Signifying the way society has consumed us and how we are consumed by consumerism.

3 lines of numbers

Numbers!

First full line with numbers

The First Name

Craig James

I ♥ Facebook

My new favourite art tool.
Thank you to everyone who has joined my group/sent me a comment/message saying I can use their names.
You will be barcodes.Congratulations!

And Counting

I have 42 names.
Coded and ready to roll.
First thing tomorrow after I shower and do my hair is:
Number drawing!

22726337 273 5683

Predictive text on please!

Names

I want to ask peoples permission to use their names in my work.
It will be coded so your name won't be obvious and will only become visible if someone decodes it.
If you don't mind leave me a comment/message on facebook profile giving me permission! Facebook or the group I've made just for the project Names Group
Thank you!

(I'll try and send you a photo if I have the time to photograph every name as I draw them!)

Number Time

First number test using a stencil.

Numbers

I think I need a stencil

Exhibition Prep

I painted the wall.
(and some of the floor sorry Keiran!)

Done

51 lines.
20 (approx) minutes per line of barcodes.
17+ hours of drawing lines.
14 Sharpie markers.
3 rolls of masking tape.
3 pieces of A1 backing board.

The Last Line

Uni

I did work in uni.One week until assessment.
:/

What to say

Names Names Names
I've decided to write names not messages in the numbers.
Predictive text encoding method.
You are a product you are consumed
I really am a barcode now.

Near the end

4 lines left.
I love these:
Ice White Backing Board (Hobbycraft with love and money from my Mam)
Sharpie twin tip permanent markers (Ebay £3.49 for 12)
Ruler (stolen from my parents)
Masking tape (4 rolls for a pound in Poundland)
Pencil (found it)
The kitchen table/my bed/Jackie's bedroom floor

Barcodes - The end is nigh

Third A1 Page of barcodes

I am a barcode

More Scott Blake fun.
Welcome to being a barcode,a product, an enigma.