Does it matter? Opening Night

The private view of my first ever solo exhibition was a huge success, couldn't be happier with how it went.  I performed for the duration of the opening (2 hours) interacting with the audience and engaging them with my work.

Does it matter? Exhibition

http://www.arts.lboro.ac.uk/calendar/event/arts_pass_exhibition:_does_it_matter/

Very excited about the opening night tonight, hoping the event is a success and my performance goes to plan.

Does It Matter? Video

Video editing in progress

Still from 'Does It Matter?', Chaz Howkins, 2016, video still

Does It Matter? Video

Still from 'Does It Matter?', Chaz Howkins, 2016, video still

Still from 'Does It Matter?', Chaz Howkins, 2016, video still 

Still from 'Does It Matter?', Chaz Howkins, 2016, video still

Does It Matter? Video

Still from 'Does It Matter?', Chaz Howkins, 2016, video still

Still from 'Does It Matter?', Chaz Howkins, 2016, video still

Manipulated Portraits

Torn Apart, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo collage

Further collaging of Charlotte and Chad to represent hiding an alternative identity but having it show through.

Manipulated Portraits

Hide, Chaz Howkins, 2016, acrylic on photograph 

Cover Up, Chaz Howkins, 2016, acrylic on photograph

Burn Out, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Torn Out, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

I manipulated these portraits using physical methods such as painting, drawing, burning and ripping so that the subject is distorted and their identity is questioned.  I used physical manipulation techniques rather than digital to give the images more presence and make them more personal.

Manipulated Portraits

Crossover 1, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Crossover 2, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Crossover Sections, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

I collaged images of Charlotte and Chad to represent an internal conflict of identity and to explore the extent to which you can cross over features of characters of different genders before their gender is questioned.

Woven Portraits

Woven Portraits, Chaz Howkins, 2016, woven photographs

Proud: A Celebration Of Pride Exhibition

Two of my pieces in the exhibition

A small exhibition but still a good opportunity to have my work seen by a wider audience.

Distorted Portraits

Distorted Portraits - Beard Hole, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Distorted Portraits - Makeup, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Distorted Portraits - Long Lips, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

I created these distorted portraits by moving the images around while photocopying them.  I feel these images aren't as successful as the distorted bodies, however I plan to use them as a part of future collages.

Distorted Bodies

Distorted Bodies - Wide, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Distorted Bodies - Line, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

Distorted Bodies - Float, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation

I used a photocopier to distort these images of myself dressed as Chad.  The intention was to create confusing imagery which distracts the viewer from immediately questioning the gender of the subject.

Shakespeare Exhibition

Elizabethan Self Portrait, Chaz Howkins, 2016, acrylic

Selfie with my selfie 

I created this painting for a Shakespeare themed exhibition.  My intention was to create a classical style portrait of a genderqueer subject to communicate that genderqueer people have always existed and that challenging gender expectations is not a contemporary concept.

Progress of Elizabethan Self Portrait

Metal Workshop Outcome

Jerry, Chaz Howkins, 2016, metal

I decided that I wouldn't be able to create something which was relevant to my practice during the electric welding workshop, so decided to create a giraffe out of metal.  After snapping the blade of the electric saw, I used an angle grinder to cut the metal pipes to the right size.  I then used the electric welder to attach the pieces together and the angle grinder to create the patterns on he body.

Concrete Workshop Outcomes

Concrete Fluidity, Chaz Howkins, 2016, concrete

Concrete Fluidity, Chaz Howkins, 2016, concrete

I carved the gender fluidity symbol into a block of styrofoam so that the concrete would cast with the symbol raised on its surface.  Gender fluidity is often dismissed as an identity, so I wanted to cast the symbol in concrete to create a sense of permanence and validity.

Concrete Casting Workshop

Wooden mould

Concrete mixer and moulds

Remains of the mould

During this workshop I created a wooden frame to act as a mould for the concrete and then carved my design into a block of styrofoam and placed it in the bottom of the mould.  I then poured the concrete into the mould, left it overnight to set and dismantled the frame to remove the solid concrete block.

Vinyl Moulding Workshop

Clay covering object

Pouring in the vinyl

During this workshop I watched a demonstration of how to create a vinyl mould.  This is a very time consuming process and I didn't feel I could make it relevant to my practice so I decided against casting an object of my own.

Sculpture Maquette

Middle Finger Maquette, Chaz Howkins, 2016, clay

I created this maquette using clay and may venture into creating a life size version using body casting.  The expressive hands cover where the breasts should be in an attempt to express a sense frustration from being restricted by your physical form.

Manipulated Double Exposures

Fluidity Symbol, Chaz Howkins, 2016, photo manipulation and paint

After creating a postcard sized drawing of this image, I felt it would work well on a larger scale so I splattered paint over an A3 print out of the image.  I feel it was more successful as a drawing due to how the symbol becomes lost within the colour, so my next step is either to paint the symbol over a black and white print out or to draw image again on a larger scale.