TOP ARTS: VCE 2005
Cait Burgoyne
Homage to Goya 2005
Portland Secondary College
Student Profiles
Interview: Cait Burgoyne
Portland Secondary College –
Art
Goya inspired both technique and concept in all of my works and I created Homage to Goya in recognition of this. I have attempted to be very loose, almost out of control with my line of work and aquatint. I played with the idea of my hair being tangled around objects and this entanglement symbolised my feelings of entrapment and struggle. I extended this idea by exploring the haphazard nature of the unconsciousness mind and the inability to think rationally while asleep.
Describe the Ideas behind your work short-listed for Top Arts.
Goya’s etching The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters was the main source of inspiration this year. Not only the aesthetic qualities of the cloud- like effect of the birds behind the figure, as I replicated with bugs, or the heavy use of linework, when creating tone and shadow. It is conceptually fascinating and in recognition of this I created ‘ Homage to Goya’ and ‘The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters 4’ was an extension of my focus of vulnerability of the unconscious mind. The small solar etching of a scene taken from a traditional nursery rhyme book of Little Red Riding Hood is an exploration of the fear that traditional nursery rhymes instils in children. What I was most intrigued with was how violent and sinister nursery rhymes actually are, after looking past the glossy surface of a cute child or the romanticized surroundings, and how fearful experiences have an effect in a person long after childhood.
What were your starting points? Where did your inspiration come from?
The concept of basing my works on Goya was essentially a progression from Year 11(Unit 2). Last year I began to play with the idea of my hair being tangled around objects such as a shark cage and this entanglement portraying my feelings of entrapment and struggle. So this year I chose to keep with the “hair” idea, but moved more towards the complex notions of the loss of control of the unconscious mind, and while asleep the loss of the ability to think rationally.
What media/materials did you select and why?
In art this year I explored various types of etching. Because I liked the effect of black ink and fine liner, mixing together with water, I decided that etching would best replicate this. ‘Homage’ is an etching and aquatint. Heavily diluting the bitumous paint with turps, created a loose, runny effect that moved freely around the copper. I like this in contrast to the dark scribbly lines, as it creates an interesting surface. Sleep of reason 4 incorporates both solar etching and etching and aquatint. By solar etching the Little Red Riding Hood image, it enabled me to show another form of etching and capture the intricate detail of the traditional engraving. When talking about traditional I mean the already existing technique used to engrave the nursery rhyme illustration.
How did new technologies influence your ideas or working methods?
New technologies didn’t play a major role in my work however solar etching is a relatively new form of etching. I was interested in demonstrating both traditional and non traditional forms of etching. I also liked the idea of applying a new technique on the traditional engraving.
What challenges/difficulties, if any, did you encounter in producing your work?
Etching can be extremely tedious. It is often hard to judge how long to leave the plate in the ferric chloride, too long and the plate’s aquatint becomes to dark. When altering Homage the background became very dark after the initial first print. Wiping back the ink was a challenge also. In Sleep of Reason the solar etching was difficult. It was hard to judge whether just enough ink had been wiped back to reveal, just enough lighter shades to contrast the dark.
Were there any influences from other sources that were significant in the production of your work, e.g. literature, media, historical, or political events? How did this impact on the development of your work?
Both literature and history influenced me to a degree (in terms of the traditional nursery rhymes), but essentially I was exploring fear in my own mind and applying that toward the already existing nursery rhymes. I wouldn’t say this made a dramatic impact to the development of my work, as both my own exploration, with the initial influence resulted only in progression, not to change my work as such.
Were there any ethical or moral issues or concerns evident in your work?
Goya’s work was my main influence, and although it was the conceptual aspect that I was particularly fascinated by, in Homage I also wanted to express my appreciation for the processes of etching, and how this traditional technique is as effective now as it was when it was first begun.
Example Support Material
What resources did you access, e.g. libraries, galleries, newspapers, magazines, art programs, websites, films, events and performances?
- Libraries, Monash University for Red Riding Hood Image
- Nursery Rhyme books
- Art books
- Etchings on websites, including the NGV.
What exhibitions did you see in 2005? Was there a specific exhibition that influenced the development of your ideas and working methods?
I attended Top Arts but nothing specific influenced my ideas or working methods.
Did you see Top Arts 2005? If so, what was your response?
Yes, Incredible diversity of images. I was particularly influenced by the etching works
Did you consider presentation and conservation issues in the process and production of your work?
Yes I used acid free paper and good quality etching ink.
What advice would you give to students undertaking Art or Studio Arts?
If you are after a good result, it is vital you become very absorbed in your art, and strive to keep developing and improving.
What were the highlights of your studies in 2005?
Being short listed for Top Arts, winning the Deakin University art competition that Warrnambool organised to celebrate talent across the district and acquiring important skills for my art in the future
Are you planning to pursue a career in the arts?
At this stage yes, Visual arts secondary teaching.
What are you doing in 2006?
I plan on deferring and working in both Queensland and Melbourne so I can decide where I would like to attend university.
At the moment I am working in Coolangatta Queensland, but I am keen to do some overseas travel at the end of the year. I’ve decided I’d like to attend University in Melbourne next year in 2007.
