Disperse

Phew, so this is the last update for my Four Words projects : "Disperse" . I appologise for the quality of the photos - I really struggled with decent light as we haven't had a sunny day when I've been able to take photos (only sunny days when I've not!).

I'd initially wanted to do something to do with bird shaped kites. Ideally a set of them showing the different stages in 'wing flapping'. I did a lot of research into bird flight and was struggling with how I was going to make the kites. I started experimenting anyways, and one of my experimental paper birds I made out of an old envelope. The tutors liked that and suggested I go along that route. At Christmas I found this book on Sunshine's sister's bookshelf and borrowed it. I made a paper bird based on the instructions and loved how it came out, so started making more with my collection of envelopes, which after some decorating, evolved into the birds you see above. Each bird represents one of the countries that I have lived in. Each bird too is addressed “To Mithila Shafiq” in the language of that country (thank you mum and Tiu for the help!).

The British one : ‘Bristol, United Kingdom’ – as that’s where I live now and where this will be posted from.
The Malaysian one : ‘Johor, Malaysia’ – in ‘Jawi’ script. Johor is the state in Malaysia that I was brought up in.
The Bangladeshi one : ‘Dhaka, Bangladesh’ – in Bangla script. Dhaka is where I was born.

I linked my own feeling of dispersal (living in three different countries) with the idea of birds, flight and airmail; and decided this would be quite appropriate for the Mailmeart exhibition. One of my New Year's Art resolutions was to get my work 'out-there'; exhibited, sold, etc, and so I'd been looking at things I could submit my work for. The Mailmeart submission deadline is tomorrow so I thought this would be a great way to 'disperse' my work into the world! I made a mobile from the three birds and made an envelope/box for them to go inside. I also cut out a lino stamp that says "DISPERCE JAN 08" (yes, I've just realised that its spelt wrong! - damn! and I managed to cut my fingers twice while making it as well .... oh well ...).

CRIT: Tutors were mostly happy with this. When I handed it in though, the inside of the box was not decorated, and they said that it would be better if I'd put as much effort into the inside as the outside - so what you see in the bottom two pictures is where I have done a collage inside to show my 'migration routes'. Also they suggested it would have been better if I did the 'windows' with that funny plastic that they actually DO use on envelope windows (rather than the acetate sheets that I used). I would have loved to have if I could source a sheet that was big enough to cover the holes I had (and I personally think my acetate is a bit sturdier). The other thing one of the tutors said was "if you were a real genius, you would have designed your own stamps..." . Hmmm... that's true, I COULD have designed my own stamps, but I actually LIKE sourcing ephemera and I probably spent as much time trying to find just the right stamps (you'll notice they are all relevant to the theme but not necessarily birds), as I would have designing my own. It's a shame I had to resort to printing some of them as my trip to the local philatelic shop wasn't very fruitful.

Since the assessments, I've only just had a little time to finish off the inside of the box, try and take a few more pictures, work out a way to strap the mobile to the inside of the box so that it doesn't get too bashed about in the post, and then this afternoon, I finally sent it off! Y0u should have seen the look on the postoffice-girl's face ;) I hope it arrives safely and gets chosen for the exhibition and book of the exhibition.