What does it mean when things mean things (Glasgow degree show visit)
"What does it mean when things mean things?" – that seems to be the main concern of design and art academia. Well, I guess to do it justice, it should be broadened to "what does it mean when _____?" with the blank filled with one of a dozen subjects on rotation, like: social norms change, or a copy gets created, or economy crashes, or cultures reappropriate things, or disparate objects start to belong. It's the obsession with meaning that fuels an academic practice.
I went to Glasgow to have a look at Glasgow School of Art summer show called Post. Here's how it's described:
The title ‘post’ reflects on this moment in time post degree shows and is a play on phrases such as ‘past the finishing post’ and ‘post-pandemic’. Themes include tradition and future; health and wellbeing; protest; social justice; environmental and identity.
Yes, a bit of a nothingburger. But it was an interesting show to look at, still.
I showed up and it was absolutely empty, apart from one receptionist, who was really surprised, and told me the exhibition was closed. I showed him the page that said it's open. He shrugged and said, ok, let me open it for you then.
It was the biggest door anyone ever opened for me: maybe three meters high and two meters wide.
My favourite work in the show was hands down this one, How to make a new monument by Chih-Kang Hsu (MA Fine Art).
Another one I really liked was this game: press the button once per second (counting in your mind), and after 30 seconds it gives you your personal time rhythm.
I also liked this book about the materiality of money. What does it mean when money?
And this one was aboout calendar systems changing and days going missing out of historic recrds. What does it mean when time?
This one is some architeture zine. Just thought it was funny.
Explosion realm
The sphere produced from within by a chemical explosion
It's a conception of thought or a birth of a feeling
- the energy realm born from within.
Made in the ever-lasting material, the inexhaustible realm is eternal
I thanked the receptionist for opening it up for me, and he was really nice about it.
I really liked Glasgow School of Art. It's a good place to be. If I wanted to study design, I'd seriously consider it. Glasgow is a better scene than London, it's less boujie and not as commercially suffocating.
But what I've come to realise is that I'm a lot less concerned nowadays with the "What does it mean" type questions. I just want to write and make my writing happen in visual form. I need something where they help develop video/audio projects. I'm not even sure anymore that there is a silver bullet course for that. Maybe it'll be a matter of assembling my own degree out of an array of short courses. But I wish I could hang around a place like Glasgow School of Art, it's nice there.