Thomson and Craighead

Official Website

Image Source

Another collection of work that particularly caught my eye was by another duo: Thomson and Craighead. What particularly struck my eye was work that looked like a karaoke monitor but was like a message from Colonel Gahdafi's wife. This links to political themes, and mimics lyrics to a song. This is sort of similar to what I want to do.

Image Source

Image Source

Kennardphillipps

Official Website

Image Source

After doing some initial internet research on artists who create work relevant to my project, there is a couple I want to look into further. Kennardphillipps is one of them. I really like their style, and from the list of things I want to embody in my work, their work had the most from all the artists I've looked at today. They highlight political issues, whilst incorporating a negative opinion. They use text in their work and combine collage and paint. They also use print, which is a technique I want to use in this project. I also thought about using newspaper as my project theme is covered mostly by the news. I wasn't quite sure, however, how to do it. But looking at this work it can be done in a sophisticated manner. 

Image Source

Image Source

Image Source

Iron Sky Lyrics

PAOLO NUTINI LYRICS

"Iron Sky"

We are proud individuals living on the city,
But the flames couldn’t go much higher.
We find God and religions to,
To paint us with salvation.
But no one,
No nobody,
Can give you the power,

To rise over love,
And over hate,
Through this iron sky,
That’s fast becoming our minds.
Over fear and into freedom.

Oh, that’s life
That’s dripping down the walls
Of a dream that cannot breathe
In this harsh reality
Mass confusion spoon fed to the blind
Serves now to define our cold society

From which we’ll rise over love,
Over hate,
From this iron sky,
That’s fast becoming our minds.
Over fear and into freedom.

You just got to hold on!
You just got to hold on!

Ohhh ohhhh oh oh

(To those who can hear me, I say, do not despair.
The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed,
the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress.
The hate of men will pass, and dictators die,
and the power they took from the people will return to the people.
And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.
Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men –
machine men with machine minds and machine hearts!
You are not machines, you are not cattle, you are men!
You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful,
to make this life a wonderful adventure
Let us use that power!
Let us all unite!)

And we’ll rise over love,
And over hate,
Through this iron sky,
That’s fast becoming our minds
Over fear,
Into freedom.
Into freedom.
From which we’ll rise over love,
And over hate,
Through this iron sky,
That’s fast becoming our minds.
Over fear and into freedom.
Freedom!

Oh!
Rain on me!
Rain on me!
Rain on me!

Lyrics Source

Whilst searching for the lyrics to Iron Sky, I stumbled upon this article. It directly links the song to the Scottish referendum. Although Nutini hasn't said this himself its a good suggestion, and links my project: the song to politics. I particularly like the section of the song highlighted in blue. It is a speech by Charlie Chaplin from 'The Great Dictator'. I want to use this part of the song most in my work. The film is about a Jew in Nazi Germany. There is a 2012 film called 'Iron Sky' also about Nazi's. Which leads me to believe it is a term relating to politics. Not just the title of a song. 

Article about Iron Sky

Iron Sky Movie Trailer

Iron Sky Movie

The Great Dictator Movie Trailer

The Great Dictator Movie

The Full Charlie Chaplin Speech

From The Great Dictator

Paolo's Explanation of Iron Sky

Paolo's Inspiration

Relevant Artists

Banksy - Political/Text
Richard Hamilton - Collage
Anthony Wallace - Text/Album Art 
James Cauty - Political/Text
David Gentleman - Political/Text
John Keane - Political/Abstract Landscapes/Text
Kennard Phillipps - Political/Text/Use of Newspaper/Printmaking
Jamie Reid - Abstract/Politics
Walid Siti - Abstract/Political Theme
Thomson and Craighead - Text/Relation to Song/Political
Mark Wallinger - Political/Text
Paul Silva - Works on Metal
Mary Beier - Works on Metal/Text
Art Relating to Music

First Idea

I've been listening to a song by Paolo Nutini, and I want to create some work based around it, particularly the interlude. I already have an idea of what I want to do. The songs called Iron Sky, so preferably I want to do a painting on a sheet of iron, but I'll probably have to use a cheaper metal. I was thinking of painting a sky like landscape on to it and then scratching some of the words into the paint. As the song is quite a deep reflection on society. 

Paolo Nutini

Iron Sky Lyric Video

Iron Sky Artwork

Iron Sky: Short Film

I want to link this project to politics. The words are relevant to this theme, and the general election is coming up soon. I usually create work for aesthetic reasons, so I want to do something slightly deeper for a change, as well as hopefully creating something nice to look at. 

I am going to need to do some research about politics, as I am pretty clueless. My only view of it is there all the same, money orientated middle aged men, and I'm not going to vote as I don't trust any of them. 

I need to find artists who create work with a political social stance: the first person that springs to mind it Banksy. I want my final piece to be abstract, but resemble a sky, and include text, I'm sure I can find many artists who do something similar. I'm considering doing a bit of printmaking/collage as well as painting, so I'm also going to look for multidisciplinary artists such as Pop artist Richard Hamilton.