Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Reading of Nature (Working Title)  

Outline
Reading of Nature [Working Title] International arts/education/anthropology strategy dedicated to celebration and understanding of Polar Regions and their protection - research, education Futurelab prototype, conference, launch permanent MA research course component, book with DVD, website, performances, three month visual art event coinciding with closing stages of IPY. The risk-taking art project at core of project, key point of communication, designed specifically for massive art centre /industrial space will incorporate series of ice, snow, water, video installations, promoting public interaction, insight. Paramount to our relationship with and understanding of the natural world today must be clear communication of key solutions, helping to minimise environmental impacts. 'A seminal artist has touched on eternal truths via obsession with water' Introduction As an artist I have a role to play in conveying complex questions supporting awareness and greater consideration towards environment. Art is excellent communicator of contemporary issues and can address such profound topics, underlining critical philosophical and ecological issues. Objective Encourage better understanding of snow /ice, water, air in contemporary terms. Is concern purely for natural world’s functional role? Polar ice is time capsule holding secrets about future. How can team support wider consciousness re protection of unique environment? Questions : • How are Poles perceived? • How can we reveal inner nature, ice, snow, water? • What experiments must I devise to design environment influence thinking? • How can we encourage public to look anew at relationship with nature? • What can we learn from indigenous peoples? Project challenges traditional roles of art, encouraging new levels of debate. Particular attention to sustainability issues/green agenda will be maintained. Outcome 1 Education Futurelab established 2 Launch research Art, Space, Nature, Science, [ASNS, International MA Edinburgh] 3 Research with anthropologist, publication/conference, Nuuk. 4 Visual Art Event - Sequence incorporating snow, ice crystals, freezing water, floating ice, cycle, rain, deluge, evaporation, video installations. 5 Book+DVD. Background I work with fusion of art, architecture, science, using water as main medium and research focus. My work is positioned within urban realm while evoking natural phenomena/ environmental concerns. “Bringing water inside introduces artificial state. By creating artificial state inside, Ogilvie’s intention is to bring attention to distance between everyday life practices and elemental resources…isolating water from natural habitat, highlights its fundamental qualities pointing back to place of origin.” ”Her research involves collaborating with scientists, engineers, giving Ogilvie possibility to extend knowledge of how technology can support interaction between artist and audience.” Having exhibited in leading Centres, Arnolfini, Fruitmarket, Mead, Serpentine, Dundee Contemporary Arts, and Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Japan, work enjoys international status. Scottish projects have been sited in massive warehouses, hangars. ‘The success of Bodies of Water lies with Ogilvie’s commitment to audience enabling them to interact with, experience/explore one of most precious natural resources. Through series of installations viewer is offered opportunity to share in Ogilvie’s experience of sensorial engagement within an environment. The effect of the work is then to affect.’ METHODOLOGY See Section 3.2 SUMMERY International project, collaboration with leading professionals. My influential position as artist is to affect change, promoting public awareness of Poles significance.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Education/Outreach Futurelab- Artist/scientist collaborating to devise permanent hands on programme for young, helping them make informed choices in future. International MA, ASNS, permanent polar research component established in Greenland. Communication - Art at Centre. Project will reflect what anthropologist Wendy Gunn wrote about recent installations, Bodies of Water and The Liquid Room: “visitors were asked to immerse themselves within experience itself. This experience relates to body, and installation is designed to ‘draw people in through senses’. ‘Drawing people in’ is way of bringing their lives into work; another way of learning new things.” Anthropology Collaboration, anthropologist, self, indigenous peoples/research/publish.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Futurelab collaboration with various countries. Permanent curriculum component, Greenland, for Art Space Nature Science, International Masters Course, Edinburgh. Danish based anthropologist/my research with indigenous people, publication, establishing permanent links. Art Project will take place in appropriate country/location. International team will work on project. I.e. from Japan, Germany, Switzerland, etc Book/DVD, bilingual.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Short stay [approx two weeks] Weddell Seas to make HD video works and in Greenland with further filming, perhaps a filmmaker, at Ilulissat and other nearby locations plus field work by myself and anthropologist Dr Wendy Gunn among communities.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/08-04/08            
Antarctic: 11/07-12/07            

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Project can hopefully share support/facilities with other IPY activities as greater part of research and fieldwork is in more accessible areas. Any film or video equipment would be fairly light and fairly portable.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Futurelab - Direct observation/ stance education programme for children established of simple hands on experiments, designed during project with scientist. Bi -annual research, Greenland, 2nd MA, seminal international course ASNS, Edinburgh, comprising scientists/artists/architects/landscape architects/performers. Field work/ collaboration documentation by myself/Dr Wendy Gunn, Greenland will be published. Legacy of infrastructure established, linking various University Departments with project

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No - Not yet. However, my work is usually very well supported both nationally and internationally with good financial and other backing through peer esteem

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes

Although this is a new autonomous proposal, I would envisage that it would align with other projects. This would be important in terms of success of my works communication with public and education input and what my team can offer in support of/collaboration with other Polar activities

How will the project be organised and managed?
METHODOLOGY 1. Cost assessment spreadsheet. Applications to bodies. Approach appropriate venues, UK, elsewhere, apt setting. Align with other projects. 2. Appoint engineer, anthropologist, scientist, project manager, events director, education officer, media manager, filmmaker to document. 3. Collaboration, plan Futurelab 4. Filming. Research/fieldwork with anthropologist. Research, ice, snow, ice crystals, circulation, with research associate. 5. Site visits, engineer, team. 6. Final period experimentation. 7. Design plans, spreadsheet, engineer 8. Art event/ communications hub. Events organization - Research, Conference, Education workshops - experiments for children - ice, water, air, workshops, launch Futurelab, M.A. permanent curriculum project launch, Performances, Lectures, Media, website, substantial Publication with DVD.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Collaborate, plan, establish Futurelab, programme children. Art Project/Communications hub -Series of lectures, tours, conference, workshops, experiments, talks, printed matter, book/DVD, web site. Establish MA permanent component. Anthropologist/myself collaborate with indigenous people, Greenland Filmmaker will document process, outcome, public engagement, fieldwork. Media manager will dispatch information from early stages, process/outcomes and beyond.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Appointee, PHD, will manage statistics. This is particularly relevant when public and education are involved and during research collaboration in Greenland. The team has to make sure that information and message in work are clear. During exhibition PHD student will monitor visitors thinking and we will write report.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Will apply to the usual art and art/science funders. It is also appropriate for me to apply for research funding from my research board at university. I have good record of support. However, timescale is too short for some art/science applications as project should be launched late November

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Art event, hub of communications, using language of our times. Massive event incorporates varied experiences of ice/water forms. Snow from floor to ceiling behind glass reveals details. Floating/melting ice creates audio/visual effects. Immense projections of icebergs/flows are reflected in still pools. Water, powered by hidden devices, enacts cycle. Pools display drops/deluge/circulation/evaporation, bordered by access decks. Information revealing state of ice/water surface is projected onto walls, through basic physics principles. Melting ice, wave patterns, produce changing display in dark. Education workshops, lectures, commissioned sound/performance/dance, accompany project. Documentation, large format photographs, book/DVD, published outcome of research, will promote IPY message in future.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Visual artist, Lecturer, Research Fellow Elizabeth Ogilvie
Edinburgh College of Art
Sea Loft, Harbour Road, Kinghorn, Fife,
KY3 9ST
UK

Tel: 01592 891270
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation