Project Overview
This project explores the conflict between identity and job in contemporary labour. Inspired by personal experiences and conversations about job loss, I aim to investigate how work shapes our sense of self.
Inspirations:
My approach is influenced by writings from Rosa Luxemburg, The Burnout Society by Byung-Chul Han, Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber, and Strikethrough: Typographic Messages of Protest by by Silas Munro. These works highlight the tension between labour and personal identity.
My approach is influenced by writings from Rosa Luxemburg, The Burnout Society by Byung-Chul Han, Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber, and Strikethrough: Typographic Messages of Protest by by Silas Munro. These works highlight the tension between labour and personal identity.
Aim: Through workshops and interviews, I want to create art that captures individual experiences of job-defined identity. The project will culminate in an exhibition and short film, encouraging reflection on labour, resistance, and redefinition.
Audience: I aim to engage union members in London (through TUC, UVW, Community, UNISON, and Labour Research Department) and local residents in Bethnal Green. The goal is to foster dialogue and collective reflection on work and identity.
Visual Inspirations
Mediums to Explore
Screenprint: Using this medium to create bold, graphic statements.
Paintings: Expressive abstract works to evoke emotions and experiences.
Collage: Collaborative pieces created with participants during workshops.
Early workPaintings: Expressive abstract works to evoke emotions and experiences.
Collage: Collaborative pieces created with participants during workshops.
During my residency last year at AGA Lab in Amsterdam, I created posters using stock images and short data snippets about the job market. These posters posed provocative questions like "How are you without your job?" and "If work betrays you, are you staying silent?" to stimulate reflection.
For this project, I plan to use real images of participants, either through photography, illustration, or painting, to create more personal and impactful artworks.
Next Steps
Workshops: Collaborate with participants to create collages, helping them open up and express their experiences.
Interviews: Conduct in-depth conversations to gather personal stories.
Creative Responses: Develop screenprints, illustrations, and paintings based on these stories to showcase in the exhibition.
Social Media Call Out
(posted after my residency)
(posted after my residency)
Thank you for reviewing my project! I look forward to hearing your feedback and am happy to answer any questions you might have. If you’d like to discuss it further, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
