Lacey GILBERT
Spaces (bedroom)  2017
from the series Spaces
ink-jet print 50.0x 270.0cm  

Lacey GILBERT
Spaces (study)  2017
from the series Spaces
ink-jet print 40.0x 200.0cm  

reproductions courtesy of the artist and Luther College

TOPshots 2017-18 Finalist
VCE Studio Arts 3&4

Artist statement:

For the Spaces series (bedroom) I experimented with myself and my personal space as the main subject matter in a self-portrait. I believe that my bedroom is my sanctuary where I spend all my free time and escape from study. In the recent years I have decorated it to represent my personality and tastes, it contains many elements that represent my identity - who I am, my rituals and my interests. I tried to create a space which is warm, calming and aesthetically unique to me. I additionally placed myself into the artwork posing in symbolic actions creating a narrative within the work. These represent how I most use the space.

Using a series of photographs I created an exploded panorama of my bedroom and my study using Adobe Photoshop to layer the individual images together and rearranging the order. The exploded and fragmented composition helps to represent different points in time throughout my year 12 year. It symbolises how the space is used over time not just in one individual moment. The inclusion of myself as a subject in different frames helps also to create a time lapse effect throughout the panelled piece, showing also that I constantly use these spaces. Repetition in this artwork is very strong and I believe that the overlapping of similar images allows for a colour harmony to be created, helping produce a unity within the piece.

I developed the works from my potential directions further by expanding the number of evolutions to create variety ensuring that a day and night sequence featured in both pieces. This enlarged scale allowed me to be placed within the frame more regularly. The evolutions were layered in a panoramic format to assist in communicating the narrative of this complex but repetitive year. 

For Spaces (bedroom) I included three full circuits of this personal space. As it symbolizes how the space is used over time and not just in one individual moment. I continued to include myself as a subject to help communicate a time lapse effect and the personal element of the piece.

For the Spaces series (study), The study space represents the other part of the house where I spend the rest of my time. Year 12 is an exciting but challenging year and I have high goals and aim to do my best. Sometimes I feel like I live in the study! I hope to achieve the ATAR I need for my dream course. I almost never study in my bedroom, I try to leave this place as a restful space.

I continued to include myself as a subject to help communicate a time lapse effect and the personal element of the piece. For Spaces (study) I included two evolutions because the cycle experienced in this space is less varied – more repetitious, always feels the same. Study is study!