Intaglio and Aqua Tint

Artist Statement.

This is my Statement for the Intaglio Prints Project.

I have always had a personal interest in the advancing technology of today and how humanity is leaning towards utter dependence on machines, artificial devices and computers over the past century. I have always found it fascinating how quickly humanity on a whole adapts to what are massive leaps in technology. (i.e. the internet as we know it has been in existence for little over a decade yet most people take it for granted, as if has always been here) 

 Over the course of my research in these areas I came to notice a pseudo cult pattern emerging for multimedia computerized devises, media devices such as I phone and social media outlets such as Facebook. These have come to develop in recent years all the necessary foundations for a major religion. Foundations such as power over the masses, some pretty strict rules and some seriously fanatical devoted users. 

I begin to document and create imagery from  this fervor and devotion with its striking similarities with major world religions,  I looked back to the 15th and 16th century Catholic church (then at the height of its Christian power). In this research I found striking similarities between Michelangelo’s floor plans for the evolution of the Vatican and plans for a structure being constructed in the U.S.A. designed by Apple founder Steve Jobs before he passed away. This building, when completed, is intended to be the mother hub and world center for Apple Industries 

I created imagery that juxtaposed floor plans of the Vatican, the center of Christian power with the plans for this Apple hub which will be the center for Apples power with other imagery such as the founding algorithm for the birth of Facebook and the first blueprints of the i phone. Through my research into the devotion at this time I was reminded of the work of the artist Stelarc. His work with robotic and social media epitomized the core of my investigation particularly his most famous works  having an internet connected artificial ear implanted in his arm, and microphones attached to his inner chest to pick up his heartbeat to be listened to by anyone with an internet connection at any time. Stelarc’s arms equipped with ear and heart with microphones are shown in my work. 

Patrick Dundon

Stelarc

Stelarc is an Australian performance artist who epitomizes the devotion and worship of technology for my line of research. Stelarc has experimented with various cybernetic, 3D programmes and surgical technology's in his work. He has built himself a robotic "Third Arm" , a cybernetic "Spider Suit" and has even had a surgically grafted "Third Ear" attached to his arm which will eventually be installed with a microphone that anyone with an internet connection could listen into at any time.

Reasearch

Through my research into the pseudo cult status of media devices such as I phone and Facebook i came across the blueprints for what will be the world center for Apple Industries which was designed by Steve Jobs himself before he passed away. When i came across these images i was struck by the similarity with the floor plans of old churches and places of worship. So i looked up images of floor plans from the era of the height of the catholic religion and began drawing images which juxtaposed elements of both. I thought this resounded greatly to my investigation, showing the similar foundations of  devotees centers at ground level .

Blueprints for Apple Industries Internation Center.

Various Renaissance Church Floor Plans.

2nd Year Printmaking and Contemporary Practices

Far too long since i posted anything on this blog! So i got into Printmaking and Contemporary Practices (PCP) at the end of last year!! Our first project was on News, Media and Story's in which we had to use the acid etch, intaglio and aqua tint processes. 

After much research i homed into what area i wished to investigate within the brief we were given, I wished to look into the area of ever growing human dependence on technology and the devotion to various devices (ie. I phone, social media)