studio1.1 weblink

http://www.studio1-1.co.uk/artist-in-residence-2011-joshua-raffell/

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Its important for me to keep looking back. I guess like a anthropologist trying to work out patterns and how we engage with the world around us, the way I do things and why...

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This work http://joshuaraffell.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/catalogue-for-toaf-2012-by-joshua.html this catalogue was made after my residence, during which time I met many great artist and wanted to collaborate with them. The link is to my old blog, as I forgot the how to login and had to set up a new account. This happens a lot...

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But I am trying to put everything together and I suppose like my own practice, I build and then tear apart and then rebuild again this is a reflective of my life and work.

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I wanted to repost this as it was inspired by a show at studio1.1 'Rear view mirror' http://www.studio1-1.co.uk/butler/index.html this show and the Cable St murals are a pertinent reminder as to why we need to vote and keep the fascist out of main stream politics.

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fig3 has a direct response to a drawing of a horse one of the few remaining preliminary sketches showing at studio1.1.  Just like the original sketches for the mural, I want to show the creative process and different stages to my own work.

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I also read 'Why Love Matters' by Sue Gerhardt a must for anyone starting out for a family but for anyone who interested in the reasons why the riots of 2011 happened and how attachment theory a babes early development and a need for a care giver and how the loss of a care giver can have terrible results.

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Also read 'The Making and Breaking of Affectional Bonds by John Bowlby I have become interested in this as it makes me think about my own journey. I have a lot of unanswered questions? so I Guess I try to make sense of what I do know?

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One of the things that shocks me is just how scary knowledge is and the more I learn, the more I wish I did not know. Seeing how we treat each other and the way intellectual men can cause so much suffering to others. I try and avoid the news as It so bias and never really tell the true story.

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I get so confused with things that they become merged into one and so the truth becomes lost and confused. I really like the Jerry salts term Clusterfuck Aesthetics, a manic depressive panic attack in the face of information overload. I think that a great description for my work.

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Please follow the link to see more of my work http://www.studio1-1.co.uk/artist-in-residence-2011-joshua-raffell/

Chelsea 2014 interim show all

I wrote the statement as an introduction to the show

Pushing Boundaries by Joshua Raffell 

Pushing Boundaries

Chelsea MA fine Art Interim show

"things have got awfully tidy recently, there is a lot of finish on things. Clingfilm, gloss and the neat hospital corners. The formula merchants are out in force. They are in the market for guaranteed product"Tilda Swinton 

"If we take any notice of hyperrealist John Gray's 'Straw Dogs' we really don't have much to look forward to, describing humanity as a plague of bacteria that threatens to destroy the world and everything in it". If this is true why  are we even making art?. In the microscopic environment of Chelsea, full of rich diversity and cultural exchange- we can make a difference. There can be no better way to do this than through the power of humour".

"what we know of our-selves is what we know of the world". James Joyce

To see the writing in context and to view other artist from the Chelsea 2014 interim show follow link http://ualchelsea2014.blogspot.co.uk

Shadow Video 1

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7CRyFyC0yKcRnBOQ184dU9ITVE/edit?usp=sharing

25th May 2014
Its not the first time I have noticed the light and how it catches the next-door tree, creating these beautiful instant and almost abstract images on different surfaces around the house. I have a selection on photos that I have taken in the past which I will add to this post as and when I find them. I have made three films on the date above It would be interesting to see these projected onto a wall or even a image to see how it changes not only in size and shape but if it changes the image its being projected on!.

I have for to long been obsessed with the idea that I make Sculpture that have an impact and presence. Being afraid to try other things as they wont match up to the sculptures. Doing an Ma at Chelsea has helped me to accept that other aspects of my day to day life may also influence my practice it might not always be evident and it may not always succeed. But its important to be open to everything and try anything...

I really like the way shadows and images pop up around the house creating unexpected and beautiful images that would otherwise go unnoticed and unseen...

Jihoon Son & Joshua Raffell

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7CRyFyC0yKcbjI4RkR1dDNsdTA/edit?usp=sharing


this work was produced with Jihoon Son at Chelsea 2014

I really enjoy working with other artist whose work I admire and Jihoon is one such artist. His work is prolific and constantly stimulating he portrays work that is darker and fun raw and beautiful. The Poster was one of Jihoon's installations which often shows naked dolls or blow up sex dolls in depraved and unsettling positions. to see more of his work go to www.sonjihoon.com

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It was an interesting journey over a couple of days we had very grand ideas about what we were going to to however very few of the conversations actually came to anything. But the performance "Its a crime Scene, But the Crime Hasn't Been Committed Yet' was influenced by Nina Simone 'Misssissippi Goddam' that talks about the segregation and atrocity's cared out black people in 1961 Mississopi http://mshistorynow.mdah.state.ms.us/articles/369/1961-in-mississippi-beyond-the-freedom-riders Jihoon & myself were aware that there was an expectation for us to go crazy like  Paul Macarthy and make a mess but we decided to keep it a calm.  Showing respect and consideration for the other. Jihoon suggested we stripped just before we went out again showing our vulnerability and adding to the expectation of the audience.

Palette Pages interview

Interview with Palette Pages, By Lisa Gray

"Palette Pages like to introduce artist that have a unique and different style, Joshua Raffell certainly fits the bill. Currently doing a MA at Chelsea School of Art and Design. Joshua is making waves with his exciting and provocative art. His hand stitched sculptures initially show innocent portrayals of puppet like figures, at closer inspection they depict a bold in your face liberation.This is art that may cause controversy, that could be considered Marmite but Joshua is gathering reactions and developing his form. Difference and unique style, the stamp of an artist is difficult to muster but Joshua is finding his way and creating art that so obviously him, so full of personality and always identifiable".

 http://www.thepalettepages.com/2014/05/08/joshua-raffell/

'...to Deprave and corrupt' Brazier Park 2014

...to Deprave and Corrupt, Brazier Park 2014

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In 2011 I took part in a festival called 'Supernormal' http://www.supernormalfestival.co.uk its a platform for alternative and edgy work that fits along up and coming bands, its an exciting place to be and the setting at Braziers is wonderful http://www.braziers.org.uk

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Upon my arrival to the house with my work, which I understood would be shown in the drawing room of the house. It became clear that there was some problem with this and an alternative place was needed!

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I was happy to have a look around and decided that a cool place was in a wooded area between the main house and and the field where bands played and people set up camp...

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For the most part it was a great experience meeting interesting people and having fun. But on the Sunday morning I went through the wooded area and found one of my work trashed the eyes ripped out and the armatures broken.

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This came a a bit of a surprise as the event was a platform for work that supposed to challenge and make people think!

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I was latter told that someone living in the house had taken exception to my work and I had been banned from ever showing my work there again.

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BBC news link about the degenerate art found in a flat in Munich " why Hitler Hated Modernism" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24819441 I just bought a book 'Degenerate Art' NEUE Galerie
I have also just watched this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QE4Ld1mkoM Hitler said "Modern artist are degenerate and he intend to eliminate them"

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"its now very common to hear people say, "I'm offended by that,"as if that gives them certain rights, It's actually nothing more... than a whine. I find that offensive." It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phase. "aim offended by that, well so Fucking what." I saw hate in a graveyard- Stephen Fry, The Guardian, 5th June 2005

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However I was invited back this year to take part in this exhibition and talk at Brazier and to have my work welcomed into the Drawing room of this splendid house, Although it appeared heavily censured Fig1 albeit with a sense of humour. But even the poster for this event was ripped of the walls as the person found the image "offensive." Fig16

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Other artist showing were Richard Bateman 'Welcome to the 21st Century' Fig2 Figures that have been so censured that they hardly give any information at all.
http://www.studio1-1.co.uk/surface_memory/index.html

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Bernadette Moloney Fig11 & Fig 12, Darren Leaf Fig4 & Fig5 both these artists work push the boundaries of taste and in doing so, expect to attract offence.

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Jordan McKenzie Fig 13 From the series 'Spent' a mixture of sperm and graphite a counterpart to the celebrated 'Piss Christ' by the American artist Andres Serrano http://www.jordanmckenzie.co.uk

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To see the image of the Andres Serrano and other artist using bodily fluids follow link http://www.bizarremag.com/news-and-videos/latest-features/11299/body_fluid_artists.html

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John Latham 'Full stop' Fig10 Who defaced the drawing room and cased controversy when he stuck a book to the wall with  a black full stop. This was removed but pun reflection the patrons wish the work was still there.

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Thanks to Keran James and Michael Kenan from studio1.1 for organising this event

Fig 16

To see the text for event please follow link http://www.studio1-1.co.uk/to-deprave-and-corrupt/

Interim show @ Chelsea 2014

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This work came about as previous work have an obvious (that is obvious to me) kinetic element to the work. I had made a strange body where the viewer is encouraged to bend over and look inside a bum-hole to view the animation inside. This act not only forced the viewer into a position of being some how apart of the work but also left the viewer vulnerable as they are bent over.

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Two days before I had been talking with peers about the work and it was discussed  that I should hide behind a bush and rush out naked when the work is being viewed.

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So I set about making this costume. with a rather large bird box that when necessary opens up to reveal a large penis. This is some what ambiguous which I think only adds to the piece.

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In future I intend not to walk around with the work but stay still as when I moved this distracted the person from viewing the work. As they became aware of there vulnerability.

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The animation was 'Tune in next week' a work inspired by Nathalie Djurberg http://www.zachfeuer.com/artists/nathalie-djurberg/ see fig14

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The feed back was encouraging the work was fun and interesting, although some people felt uncomfortable but I guess thats what the work does. It evokes extremes in people. 

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Looking at extreme Performance artist like Stelarc http://thequietus.com/articles/11469-stelarc-interview Ron Athey http://www.ronathey.com who also came into Chelsea and discussed his work.

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and Bob Flanagan who Why? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWtgdnuNiKQ also his installation work 'The Waiting Room' http://archive.newmuseum.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/4634

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This artist work is really powerful and moving this particular work 'Anxitey' is look at depression and a sense of being drowned by your very being... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofXumDHPxw0

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I was really concerned about the work as it felt understated Fig10 and without the usual bright colours associated with my work. It was challenge to accept that it was ok to put something in a gallery space that I might not be comfortable with.

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Although I enjoyed the performance I did feel the running up to people was to distarcting, while this was also ok I just felt that it was not where I wanted to take the work.  Fig11 and Fig 12

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Its was also interesting when a peer told me that I have a great body, I was shocked by this statement as I don't see this. One of the reasons for using myself and my own body is because it is imperfect and not the prefect shape or has a defined. Its my normal body with a weight issue that goes up and down that due to lack of exercise is out of shape and not well maintained. I used to swim a lot but can no longer afford to do this. I do cycle as much as possible... I have been looking at artist who use their own bodies in Art Yang Zhichao https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOSfcWZlupo who has collaborated and been taught by the Aiwewe

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Brian Chalkley said there are clubs for people to dress up like this, But I want to show my work in places that are probably not so obvious in doing so I challenge the viewer and my self. I have just read 'The Explicit Body in Performance' really interesting book by Rebecca Schneider looking at artist like Annie Sprinkle and Carolee Schneemann who's work were seen by the art establishment as Naive and Narcissistic out of touch with the new reformed art and a convenient cleaning up of the Advant Guarde that was according to the art establishment no longer in vougue.

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The work was just letting go and enjoying myself. It was liberating and fun.

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