1. Choose an object/product from a market stall or second-hand shop or found object from the area you are exploring for Rough Guide.
2. Choose an object/image/product from a shop, department store, boutique.
3. Choose an object/sculpture/painting/artwork/image from a museum or gallery
- Describe the objects/images/items - what they look like, what they are made of etc..
- List keywords that come to mind - e.g. what associations arise from looking at the items? What do you think about when you see this object?
- Now consider the CONTEXT within your area and how these might differ if they were shown in another context e.g one of the other situations, an art gallery, market stall, department store etc..
After scrutinizing the area of Notting Hill, I feel I have enough understanding of the district to allow me to compare and discuss my three items.
1.
The first object I have chosen is a magnifying glass that I found for £9 on a stall in Portobello Market. It was surrounded by pocket watches, postcards, old pages from books, thimbles, trinkets, biscuit tins etc. The magnifying glass has a solid glass lens that is mounted in a thick gold frame. The lens is rounded; otherwise known as convex, and appears to protude out from the centre of the lens. The frame is made of brass and shell and has a bronze painted border. The handle is also covered in a neutral shell plating in a Mother of Pearl style that appears white, pale blue and peach in certain lights. It reflects rainbow colours when held up to the light and is quite plastic and shiny looking. The handle is chunky and quite heavy with gold coloured rings that match the interior of the frame. The rings divide sections of the handle and as it is spherical allow for your fingers to grasp comfortably around it.
As soon as I saw the magnifying glass I immediately thought of the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes who is known to have a magnifying glass at hand to enable him to gain clues when looking at fingerprints, stains etc. It reminded me of the board game Cluedo, and is a tool most commonly associated with crimes, science and detective work. It provides instant excitement into discovery and forensics. The magnifying glass allows evidence to be viewed that is too small to see with just a naked eye. They benefit visually impaired people, making things clearer and more distinct. Magnifying glasses usually suggest a lot of mystery, however the magnifying glass I selected is rather decorative and looks like it belongs in the home of a wealthy upper class to act as an aid for reading rather than forensic science. It looks like a decadent object, rather lavish and perfect for highlighting small text. It could also be used as an aid when buying small antiques as you could use it to see cracks and imperfections.
A market stall usually consists of a table with a small shelter to protect items from rain or weather conditions. It is a temporary fixture that can be easily assembled and moved from place to place in a small amount of time. Prices of items are usually quite low as stock changes with the times and stall owners want quick profit. Some market stalls will have bright banners and posters promoting their produce that is eye catching and thus allows customers to see their stalls from afar, singling them out from their competition. Items are laid out clearly on tables with cardboard price labels in large numbers and letters. However some stalls are rather cluttered so you have to rummage in order to separate the junk from the treasure. Market stalls are usually positioned in the open air, on roads, streets and on uneven ground. They have flexible opening hours and create a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Before buying an item on a market stall, you often have the opportunity to haggle and thus reduce the price to a more affordable or reasonable one. Stalls are lively and often raucous with stall owners yelling out prices and produce at the top of their voices.
If the magnifying glass was removed from the market stall and placed in either a department store or museum/gallery its meaning would alter. If it was placed in a department store, you would expect the price to shoot up; it wouldn't have a sticker with the price drawn on in biro but a label made specifically for the item. It would probably be featured in a display cabinet amongst similar objects and you would probably have to ask the shop assistant to remove it in order to view it.
If it was shown in a museum/gallery you would expect it to be placed behind a thick glass display wall and with a huge sign saying 'Do Not Touch' on it. You would expect the price to be expensive or invaluable, however you would have to ask how much it would be as objects in galleries or museums are not priced for sale. You would also expect the magnifying glass to belong to someone of great importance,an epic explorer, someone royal or famous, the reason for it being in a museum. There would normally be a small description positioned next to it explaining who it belonged to and when it was made or found. The magnifying glass would be viewed by a curator and would be catalogued in order of importance or history and then showcased under a spotlight in a clear and concise way.
2.
The second object I selected was that of a top bought for £27 in a little boutique in Notting Hill. It is a quirky shop named Appletree Boutique that sells kitsch, cutesy designs alongside accessories and jewellery. The top I selected is one size fits all and has a retro print design all over it. It is a sleeveless top with a small pocket on the left handside and two silver buttons down the centre. The design features brightly coloured birds in a repetitive pattern. It is made of 100% rayon, should only be hand-washed and is extremely lightweight.
The top is associated with fashion and youth. Immediately you are drawn to its vivid, eclectic pattern and the humourous birds make it appear light hearted. When you see the object you think of summer and a lively environment. The colours are eye-popping and luminous suggesting a ravey, energetic atmosphere. It is a top that could be featured in magazines, worn by celebrities or everyday people. It is easy to wear, comfy and can be worn we jeans, skirts etc.
In contrast to market stalls; department stores and boutiques are much more exclusive and high end. Department stores are huge buildings that stock a variety of different products in a more sophisticated and elegant way. They are usually extremely spacious with bright lights, high ceilings and beautiful display cabinets that showcase their produce in their utmost glory. Shops and boutiques are very similar in appearance with shelves and racks specifically designed in order to enhance stock. There are shop assistants on hand to advise you in what to buy and often mannequins dressed in upcoming fashions to influence the customer in whats on trend and most popular. There is often music playing to give an atmospheric environment and goods to please people of all ages and sizes. Goods are divided on different floors or sections so customers can see exactly where the items they want will be. In departments stores produce will range from expensive designer goods, clothing, electrical appliances, outdoor tools, beauty and make-up to everyday ammenities. They have changing rooms, toilets, cafes, lifts etc, to provide the perfect outing for all the family. Unlike market stalls you cannot haggle in shops, however some offer student discounts or sales where the price will be reduced. Boutiques are extremely fashionable and often offer hand-made or one of a kind garments and thus have a particular target market whereas department stores are more general as have to cater to everybody.
If the above top was featured in a market stall, you would expect the price to drop down and for it to be perhaps poorly made or second-hand. In market stalls you expect there to be copies of well known designers yet at more affordable prices, therefore you could think that this top was a remake. You would also expect it to be placed amongst a variety of other clothes with different styles, textures, patterns and sizes. When featured in a boutique it appears in a cohesive collection and looks more exclusive and sought after, whereas in a market stall it would appear insignificant or just somebody's old top. In a market stall there would not be the luxury to try on the item in a fitting room and and it would lose any potential of being expensive.
If this top was placed in a museum or gallery you would expect it have been worn by somebody famous or designed by somebody of great stature. The top could also be vintage or extremely expensive which could be another reason for it being shown in a museum. It would also probably be positioned on its own rather than on a rack amongst lots of other clothes like in a boutique or market stall. Accompanying it would be a professional label explaining who it belonged to and perhaps what the significance of the design meant. When placed in a gallery you begin to question the relevance of the top; it would lose its function as a garment and you would see it as being something special rather than just an average top.
3.
My third object is that found in the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington. I have selected a piece of work in the Textiles section by Textile designer Anne Wilson. In her installation piece 'Topologies' created for the 2008 'Out of the Ordinary' collection, she creates exquisite, detailed and delicate pieces made from string. Her work is extremely intricate and appears to have taken an exceptional amount of time. It is labour intensive and incorporates thousands of tiny parts. It is quite cobweb/doily like in appearance and by use of pins, black lace, thread and cloth she pieces together crotchet, lace and netting. Some look like they should be viewed under a microscope, as insects; minuscule and almost bacteria like. Her work is rather drawing based yet instead of pencil or pen she uses string as her medium. It appears dreamy and organic as each piece flows and changes shape, expanding along the way. Wilson's piece is textural and suggests a landscape due to the way her work is elevated slightly off the table. She references biology and cellular structure in her work and you can associate networks, frequencies and systems due to the linear structures, winding and wrapping across the table top. 'Topologies' is presented in a brightly lit display cabinet, protected my glass in order to preserve each piece and allow its structure to remain undamaged.
Galleries and museums often showcase work that is priceless or of an exceptional value. The buildings that inhabit galleries are normally historic or purposely built architecture. A museum is a building that showcases a variety of different collections; be they historical, artistic, scientific or fashion based. The exhibitions will either be temporary or permanent and there will be text alongside each collection to explain exactly what it is showing and where it has come from. The Victoria and Albert Museum houses the finest collections of decorative arts and designs. It is a grand building that inhabits ceramics, drawings, sculptures, textiles, jewellery, furniture and much much more. The environment is very peaceful, there is no noise and the public respects this by walking around each exhibit in silence or in quiet discussion. Each room is pristine and you can tell it is cleaned on a regular basis, unlike a market stall where rubbish/litter is inevitable. Galleries showcase work that is untouchable and generally old with historic value, therefore the purpose and function of many items are lost and pieces are simply there to be admired.
If Anne Wilson's work was viewed in a market stall, I feel it wouldn't gain the attention it deserves. It would probably be overlooked and appear insignificant amongst the clutter and jumble of a stall table. It would not be understood as a work of art yet appear like offcuts of fabric or remnants of loose threads. It would also not maintain its neatness as market stalls are known for people hustling and shoving each other so I doubt that her piece would survive well on a small table. Without sufficient space it would lose its meaning as you would wonder why her work was there and what exactly it was.
If her work was placed in a department store, it would have enough space and bright light for it to be shown off however, I don't know where it would go. As it is so large it could be placed in a window display where the other products would probably swamp its detail and importance. It would still look like artwork but I think it would be an accompanying piece to clothes or furniture and would not retain sole focus. Unless it was placed in a similar environment surrounded by fashion, threads etc, I feel it would look odd and out of place.
To conclude, I think it is interesting how an object's meaning can change just from the context in which it is placed in. It makes you wonder why some items have the luxury of being ludicrously expensive just because of its brand or presentation in a certain place. Likewise with market stalls, just because something is in a market stall doesn't mean it is of any less importance. It is strange how customers are willing to accept a certain price or view something as having great importance just because its surroundings.
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