Instagram Takeover:

Due to the unforeseen circumstance of a World Wide virus this unfortunately meant that all of our exhibitions had to be cancelled. Although we could not display our work in person we still had other options to explore, in the end we took to a virtual approach by heading to Instagram.

On the 1st March our Instagram takeover started to take place and will do right up until 15th March. The takeover allowed us to still have the ability to showcase our work and to view our fellow classmates' work meanwhile. Another benefit that I achieved from the use of Instagram was gaining followers to my art account which when you are an artist means so much as you do rely on your supporters/followers when it comes to buying and sharing your work. Also another advantage of this process is you can actually see who has liked and commented on your piece, which is lovely to see that you are still gaining an audience.

For our take over we were all allowed to submit a maximum of 10 photographs each, which is just the right amount to pick out your main and favourite pieces. My work started to exhibit 7th May which was the second week of our take over, I shared this week with Cristina Bratu and Kelly Dunlop which are two amazing artists from my class. What I enjoyed about sharing the second week with the two artists is how different each one of our styles are so it would have been a nice variety for people to scroll through.

I choose to exhibit my series ‘Behind the mask’ which is a range of Abstract Acrylic paintings all canvas based in a variety of sizes, smallest scale being 50cmx40cm and the largest scale being 90cmx90cm. Each painting has been designed with a mask like structure also linking in with Cubism. I produced this collection of paintings to raise awareness so what better way to highlight the topic to have it posted around social media? So it only made sense to submit the whole series of Behind the Mask.

Behind the mask collecton:

Antisocial 79cmx30cm , Feelings Of Fertility 90cmx90cm, Brave Face 50cmx40cm and The Loud Silence 50cmx40cm.

I displayed multiple works to represent the Japanese culture. I submitted my experiment of my A5 Hand printed Lino prints which I printed using VersaFine Clair Ink pads. I then put forward my A5 duo pointillism drawings of Hannya and Okame, both drawings are entirely made up of dots with the use of a gel pen. I would use more dots in the most shaded areas then gradually start to add less and less to create highlights.

Hannya and Okame inspired collection, A5 drawings and A5 Lino prints.

My Inspired Mexican Day of the Dead mask was also up there getting showcased as I was very happy with my outcome of this mask. In the future I would like to expand on this collection as this is something that I could not do during my module due to the World Wide Virus causing many materials to go out of stock. I wanted to show off my elegant patterns which fulfilled the whole facial structure of this mask.

I presesnted a duo piece named Metaphorical movements, which is two artworks mesauring 30cm x 30 cm, Marker pen on primed and painted canvas’. Back in February I was giving the opportunity by Dance City to anticipate in one of their ongoing classes. While the dancers were performing I and 3 others sat at the side sketching them as they went on. I was intrigued by their movements and this is when I decided I wanted my work to revolve around metaphors by referring the dancers to Windmills and a Helter Skelter. 

Metaphorical Movements, both 30cmx30cm.

I believe that our takeover would have not only been a nice experience for me and my class but also for other users of Instagram who are interested in art. So many people would have planned to visit many exhibitions this year but sadly had this taken away from them, so to have showed off our work would have brought a more sense of normality to them but over a screen rather than in person. I am so glad that we had the chance to proceed with our Instagram take over as it would have been so upsetting to have produced many pieces of art and for no one to have seen them, it was nice to see mine and my classmates work all side by side to ensure we are still doing what we enjoy the most. The whole process was well orangised and set out, I don't think it could have went any better.