Yellow Stratum.

      Currently in the studio I am finishing my latest piece of work, one that is a stretched canvas with multiple layers of paint used. It was then taken off the stretcher and folded in a specific order that allowed for a certain pattern to be formed. When folded, the piece was three dimensional and able to integrate and mould around the spaces it was placed in. As this was similar to other works I have developed I decided to experiment with making the piece flat again, and this allowed a trace from previous folds to be more visible to the viewer. Though I found this interesting, it was still important to me for the work to interact with the space it was placed in, and I felt that as a piece on its own it didn't seem finalised.

      I began looking at frames and other ways to allow the work to intermingle with space around itself, such as hanging from the ceiling or shelves, to becoming a floor piece. I came to a decision that giving the piece a space of its own to work in would be suitable, and began exploring the idea of placing it inside a frame that was box like. This way I could explore a range of ideas within the box and it gave me limitations to work with.

      Through building maquettes I chose to try and give the illusion that the canvas was floating within the frame, hovering in the space created.

      I plan to experiment with lighting in order to exaggerate and enhance the depth between the canvas and frame, and hopefully add a further element to my work that will bring it closer to its conclusion.

What is the fourth dimension?

There are many theories as to what the fourth dimension may be, whether it is time, light or other. How we understand space also plays are huge part in what we imagine the fourth dimension to be. We live in a world where there are only three dimensional things, therefore it is difficult for us to be able to understand how to visualise it, or how it even is constructed. A great book to read to understand how we visualise and interpret space is Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions  by Edwin A. Abbott. This influenced my comprehension and approach to the subject through my work. If dimensions run on a pattern, it is thought by some that a tesseract would be formed, though this is just a theory.

                    

In my studio practice, visualising what the fourth dimension could be has become of great importance. I want my work to not only be three dimensional, but also contain elements of what could be considered the fourth dimension to be. Through experimentation I feel it could be time, and I want my work to be ever changing and constantly evolving. Using matt emulsion on folded canvas has become centre of my attention at the moment, and emulsion can be seen as unsuitable for paintings, as it is known to flake and crack, meaning the work will most likely need to be restored much sooner than other substances, for example oil paint. I want my work to be constantly changing over time, more paint peeling and flaking and adding to the pile of paint shavings on the ground below itself. This work can potentially become a timeless, ever changing, three dimensional painting, therefore can this represent the fourth dimension?

I hope to continue experimenting with other theories and try to incorporate them within my work, for example light and space. I hope for my work to evolve into something that represents my understanding of the fourth dimension.