Artist Statement Of My Final Piece

“I want to see every single miner on strike on the picket line. If that means you get arrested, you’ll have to accept the consequences. Were in this to the finish”. – Arthur Scargill

“Coal Is Our Life” the words of reassurance and drive for the mining spirit and community faced by harsh and difficult times in the Miners’ Strike between 1984-1985. My final piece explores the importance in which the industry had in the local community but also the fight the miners faced to achieve justice and to stop the government damaging lives. The project explores combination of Justice and Industry which gave me the drive and inspiration to follow the subject matter of the Miners’ Strike. As I am surrounded by the mining community and the industrial coal-mining environment I was inspired significantly to explore the aspect of the topic through visits to the National Coal-Mining Museum and Experience Barnsley Museum and exhibition. The topic is a personal subject matter because my family were affected by the impact of the closure of the pits but also were involved in the strike movement as they supported each other in difficult times. Also, the personal topic has been reinforced through the event that was called “The Battle Of Orgreave” in which is still a running campaign today to achieve the truth and justice in which the miners faced during the conflict with the police and government.  These areas were the main influence towards the project as I wanted to achieve the expression, emotion and struggle in which my family but also the surrounding mining town felt. I wanted to capture the historic event through a sign of respect to the miners and families but also to inform the next generation how the event impacted lives and the importance of remembrance.

To support the subject matter the works of Grayson Perry was the most influential artist through the study of tapestries and textiles banners. Specifically, through my research, a documentary was inspiring to watch created by Grayson Perry which explored the role of men in the working class society and the mining community. The final outcome of the piece was a tapestry piece that demonstrated the sense of pride and expressed the sense of reassurance that the community wanted to hear. This connected to the previous studies of workers union of the mining banners which were placed in the heart of the community to support the beliefs they felt and strive they have to succeed and fight. The studies of Grayson Perry has been very significant towards the chosen outline of my work as I have created a tapestry work with layered textures and the sense of individuality with illustrations. The expression of fight has been emphasised through the choice .The work has been connected and also been influenced by the works of Tracy Emin. Through my critical study I have learnt that the contemporary artist has expressed her opinion through the choice of explicit words, symbols with the chosen materials fabric and embroidery. From observing her works, I noticed the sense of pride and national identity through symbolic flag outlines. This gave the impression of symbolism and the impression of pride which was contributed significantly through my works. These two artists combined have shaped the appearance of my work and gave me the specific inspiration to capture the final tapestry outlook.

My intentions of the project was to create a layered screen print which expressed the banner style and tapestry works achieved from combined research. Recently I have discovered my passion of Textiles through the process of surface design and printed Textiles. For the outcome I have produced 3 layered screen which incorporated harmonious colour scheme which captures the attention of the strike movement well. I have explored further techniques within the production of my final piece which includes Puff Binder, Devore, Knitting and weaving to achieve textures appearances and outcomes. Textiles has always been an interest for me as I have previously created craft and embroidered pieces. The analysis of patterned surfaces and skills achieved within this subject has been adapted to suit the style of campaign and justice artwork. The precise and intricate style I have developed through my progression in art has been captured and worked well through the design process and outlines of surface design. I have achieved a range of skills through studying Textiles and this included the use of the sewing machine. This piece of equipment has been used within the final outcome to create a Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry styled patchwork layout. The design layout has been captured through textured layers of the sewing machine and the technique called applique which reveals a final outcome of the flag outline. The textiles piece gives the sense of handmade and a personal touch towards the design. For the project I wanted to demonstrate and highlight the importance in which Textiles has given me to succeed and progress further into the next steps of my career. For the outcome of the piece it has captured my illustration and personal expression of the piece through the 4 layered screen transferred onto the surface design. The colours were harmonious through the surface but also highlighting the important strike movement campaign colour schemes. I was influenced by the choice of colour throughout my research and development. I felt it engaged the audience well with the important messages and outline. I have captured and divided the design into 4 sections which present individual meaning but are also connected together to support the concern and subject matter of protecting the community and remembering the miners fight and spirit. In conclusion the intension of the project is to inform the audience the importance of local industry in the mining town of Barnsley and how the community fought to protect and maintain the living society. The piece is to symbolise how we need to remember the importance of the event and how the coal-mining industry was protected by the community. It is vital to remember the battle of each individual miner faced and how the divide between the mining community and the government impacted the lives but also brought people together. The outlook of the piece is to summarise the Miners’ Strike in both positive and negative aspects as the event brought the pride of the mining town and the sense of unity to support each other.

The audience for the piece is aimed at both aspects of the older and younger generation. As it will be exhibited at the College, the local community will be visiting which reflects the mining town of Barnsley. I have aimed the piece towards the community aspects and I am wanting to capture the symbol of respect for the city and mining history. This is reflected through my decision not to use explicit words and the choice of imagery to capture different aspects of the Strike Movement. I am wanting the piece to be aimed at the generation who were involved in the miners’ strike to bring back memories and to reinforce the support in which the community still has in spirit today. As the subject and topic has been inspired by my personal history I am aiming the knowledge I have gain to be passed onto other families who faced the same problems within the time. The piece is aimed at generation who were involved within the strike to show a mark of respect but also to show that the work they did has been remembered and shown as a historic mark of justice. Also, I am aiming the piece to capture the younger generation to allow them to understand the impact in which the community felt but also to learn more about the mining industry. I am hoping for the piece to engage the audience and interact with the space as it will be placed as a banner with two poles with a marching crowd within the background. The final outcome is aimed to be interactive but also to reinforce the subject matter of support and reassurance that is still maintained today. The audience will see the piece in both positive and negative ways as it gives two conflicting impressions of remembrance but also support within the Mining industry.