Major Project: Secrets

starting point:

The initial theme for my projects secrets and my plan is to investigate and explore why and when we keep them. I would also like to research into the communication (or lack) of secrets and the idea of trust and confession.

I moved on to consider all the different elements I could respond to

• Being told to be quiet- where/why
• knowing something is hidden beneath/from you – layering images
• Chinese whispers- changing of information throughout poor communication
• The power of feeling inclusive
• Negative feelings associated with having a secret and not feeling authentic

Initial Responce

As my initial response to my project idea I asked people write down a secret or confession anonymously. I then re rote them in my handwriting just so they were consistent looking and it was easier to read. Me re writing them also took away and chance of recognising someones hand writing. The confessions themselves all focused around traditionally taboo subjects and were things people would maybe be embarrassed to admit to allowed. However, tho writing these things down isn’t the same as expressing them vocally I think that putting it down on paper and into text makes it feel more real and permanent. There were also some that were things people often think or wish they could express in response to what’s is happening around them or who they are around but cant because of social pressure to be quiet and polite. For example “CBA” “I think everyone is an arsehole”

This then got me thinking about place and where and why we there holds this social pressure to be quiet and respectable. Places like churches/bus/ stops/ trains/ waiting rooms/ in bed/ when someones on the phone. So i went and took images and sound clips of all these places i associate with quiet and being reserved. I also thought it was interesting that these are all places we tend to fine our-self’s alone and with our own thoughts – things that may be considered secretive are thought about in very public spaces.

Before taking my own images i just did some small experiments with layering the confessions with found images of these locations that are associated with being quiet.

I experimented with layering one on top of the other however thought that the image of the place layered over the confession worked better both visually and conceptually – the inner secret being hidden and compressed to the persons head because of the social environment and location.

I liked the layered contrast of the images and text as well as the shapes of the images hiding and obscuring the messages underneath. moving forward I wanted to experiment with layering and collegeing the two elements again with my own images.