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I was imagining what it would be to be able to escape one’s self, considering that inevitably as I write this, as I consider the impossibility, I make it implausible.
We are the pregnant body resulting from the choices we make be them through leaps of faith or deterring in fear of the direction we may find ourselves.
The possibility of making a mistake or misguided path often gives rise as being the reason that manipulates an insecurity of failing or not being capable, into an anxiety that prevents us from rationally following through to realisation.
The maze I am constructing disorientates so that on both a perceptual and cerebral level, through plays on visual aesthetic it becomes a tangible pun simulating our finding of pleasure in the illusion of form, being visually deceived and made to feel lost. Losing yourself is typically stigmatised into being an obscenity; that it is naughty, crazy or stunts our growth, however here I am wanting to relay it as a liberating process, of testing and elimination and how in surrendering to this idea we gain access to a platform upon which we can examine EVERY available choice open.
The process of construction torturous in its requirement of patience and reflection, implores you to consider rationally the break down of a reference map into each constituent part that only at the end comes together as a whole through the decisions in design, made. There have been hours spent inundated to the point of frustration by its complexity that I’d enter a complete state of flux where stopping seemed illogical and all I had was the will that I would do this. Letterpress through metaphorical simulation of the longevity and nature to the process reciprocates the breakdown of the design concept tying the psychological process of realisation into the being of limited edition design.Natasha Pia is currently in her final year of the BA GMD Design for Interaction and Moving Image.
This blog documents the journey of Alexander Cooper and Rose Gridneff as they prepare to deliver a paper at the 'Case for Letterpress' session at the College Art Association Annual Conference, February 2010.
Each college presenting are contributing staff and student work for a touring exhibition to give an overview of the different roles letterpress plays in design education.
Participating students from the BA in Graphic Media Design at London College of Communication are:
Kate Burn
Jacqueline Ford
Natasha Pia Podgoretsky
Johanna Woolhead
Alexander Cooper graduated from London College of Printing in 2003 with a BA (Honours) in Typo/Graphic Design. He has run the letterpress workshop at what is now LCC for the past six years, teaching students from across the School of Graphic Design and external groups including University of Delaware, Art Center College and Kingston University. Research focuses on the interaction between content and process, through pushing the boundaries of letterpress whilst respecting its traditions. Other interests include the graphical language of political protest and ephemera.
Rose Gridneff graduated from London College of Communication in 2005 with a BA (Honours) in Book Arts. Since graduating she has taught on a regular basis at London College of Communication, Southampton Solent University and is currently tutor on the BA in Graphic Design at the University of Brighton. Research interests include the role of letterpress in design education, craft and interaction within print.
Alexander and Rose are currently setting up a letterpress co-operative with James Allen and Elliot Hammer.
