After a long while! My impressions for the last three months...

Dear all,
I was really very excited as you all did see. But at the end it turned out that I was not a very good blog writer. I aimed to write daily first, then weekly, the it went off completely. Maybe it is better to collect to write. By the time theta i did not write, lots of thing happened. And nothing happened at all!
Let me explain myself. I was standing on the side of the river called London. The first time I came here I immediately jumped into the water. Then I was scared to hell and get out of it. I began to observe. Then I touched the water with my toe. Then let my feet in it. It stand in the water for a while. Then I felt the courage to go further till my knees. Then it came up with the tide and wrap around my belly. I am still standing, sometimes I put my hands in. Just to get used to it a little bit more. It is not too long that the stream will get me. But I did not surrender yet!
London is like the river Thames itself!!!

***

As I was saying a lot happened. I meant it. But my memory betrays me often. So now I can write whatever I remember. The most significant thing was the exhibition. Dear Phil Baines and Judy Willcocks did an amazing job digging out the most precious pieces of CSM's museum and study collection. At some point, it was not the very beginning though not the end, I was involved to help with the project. I remember the first day I was in the archives, holding the beautiful books in my hand, letterpresses with wood engraved illustrations! I was seeing the Nüremberg Chronicle, a choir book from 15th century, an illuminated manuscript, and originals of many valuable names. What a stunning day it was. Then I went there often to help them to form the exhibition. Although I was completely lost two weeks, I was still engaged with it. At the end the more pressures days began as the exhibition opening was due. With a fews days intense work we could manage to finish all on time. I will add some photos later on. I am still not good at uploading my photos on time either.

This exhibition make me think of the act of collecting. The thing can be seen in the exhibition were the pieces from museum and study collection. That means they were not only used for exhibiting but also for teaching. At the opening Phil told the story of this collection briefly. It was initiated by London City Council with a budget of 200 pounds which now equals to like a million pounds. Then with foundation of the ....

The thing is that why these people invested it? Why it was necessary? It was really related with the social political and cultural background of the society here.

***

Jessica Helfand wrote a letter to Fiona her daughter I guess about the death of print as Carson's book mentioned. The book is how graphic design changing the ground into digital platform. Helfand says that: "The print is not death, it is sleeping!"

Degree Shows of a Commercial Arts School

On 22th of May 2014 the first degree show of CSM opened at Granary Building at King's Cross. It took ages to construct the exhibition. I would like to say that it was a great effort to realise all these and well done everyone who made it come to life. The scale of the exhibition is huge and it full fills the building's ground and third floors. The degrees shown their works were; BA Fine Art, MA Art and Science, MA Fine Art, MA Phtography, MRes Art: Exhibition Studies, MRes Art: Moving Image, MRes Art: Theory and Philosophy. I do not know the exact number of the students but the exhibition was on a museum scale.

It is really hard to combine different themes and disciplines in one exhibition. And if the exhibition is this big in scale, it is hard to follow or capture the pieces individually. And when there is no common theme it becomes more complicated to watch. When it comes to a point that promoting a commercial structure, CSM is a perfect example. But with this exhibition it is not quite successful. Although the exhibition was presented as a white cube experience and professionally fitted, it was not whole and the works were not that quality I must say. And just because of the chaos of representation the good works could have been skipped easily. Some sites did have feeling of still under construction. The day after the private view before noon, most of the exhibition was abandoned and the videos were not on the run. It might be the night before party fused it. But as the period of the exhibition was short, everyday counts.

The context of the works were mainly based on violence and sexuality. This might well be the effect of everyday consumer society surrounds the students. Or it might well be the populistic attitudes to become a part of the system as they graduate. It was a little bit disturbing to see the tense context built on these themes. Or it can be that I constantly had to listen to the video that was from a audition of sex sounds when I was working at school.

Third Week

MONDAY

We have been to a studio flat to have look. It was really near to King's Cross, ten minute to Saint Martin's. Then decided to rent i! But as everything in London, it was not that easy. The third week was about housing!!!
After the agency we returned to Broadway Market to pack our things, then headed to Finsbury Park to meet Mehmet! He took us to our new room at Wood Green. This is destiny I must say. More than 30 years ago when we first came with my father, mother and elder sister we stayed at Wood Green also. Anyway this was the room for one month before King's Cross.

TUESDAY
I have been to school and received my ID card from school. It was written CONTRACTOR on it! Unbelievable! How come you can write it on an ID of a researcher. As usual it was working with the main door. But I did not have any access to any other places at school. Although Phil clearly mentioned the doors I must have access! Again emails were sent what so ever!

St. Martin's still advertise of the school with old techniques shown images. Although they have many new techniques integrated to educational system. This is supporting my point of view about the arts education, not to loose the "making" part of it! Tube station Bethnal Green.

On tuesday evening we had a huge Turkish dinner in a Turkish restaurant at a Turkish neighbourhood which we are staying!











WEDNESDAY
Was an interesting day. I had the chance to follow some courses that Phil gives. This proofed my theory that we are overloading our students in BA! Because the courses were on MA level and the content was much easier than our BA courses. But they can go through every detail of the project. This gives the student to understand deeply what he/she is doing!
Douglas, the professor of printmaking and bookbinding did not show up. So I turned back home.

THURSDAY
The arrival of my father!
Besides many phone talks and emailing with agent and reference company, we were excited to have my father in London. After a lunch at school with Ozan we went to British Library! How incredible! There were wonderful examples of Illuminated Manuscripts and historical documents and many other at Treasures of Library Exhibition. And a wonderful other exhibition at Folio Society's Gallery about children's book illustration. there were many examples of same books throughout the century. This gives the opportunity to compares the styles and approaches to book illustration.
Afterwards we have met with my father and had an English Pub evening!

St. Pancras Station Moments

FRIDAY
The day for hanging up the works! But in the morning we received good news from the credit search company that we have passed the examination. Bravo! It is incredible that they also send a form to our ex landlord in Izmir! Anyway next week we will sign the contract!

We met my father and head to the gallery. We waited a little the hang up the works.

Then we walked to a pub and realised that it is not open. We went to Oxford Circus and walked the streets. We decided to have some wine and had a great evening!

30th November 2013, SATURDAY
Today is the exhibition opening!
Great opening!!!
Thanks for the one who came...

December 1st, 2013 SUNDAY

Sunday was an emotional day. We went to our house from 30 years ago. Trying t identify the surrounding. Lots of things have changed. First of all the big apartment buildings were erected like everywhere in the world. Big cities especially London has a big demand and need housing. But this ugly architecture should be judged in the court. Right next to the old but lovely (because they have human sense of measures and materials) victorian houses, the apartments with mass concrete and metal and glass feels like an elephant sitting on your chest!

Rediscovering London!
Battersea / Queens Town Road
House number???

Just take a turn around the corner! But the sweet machine is not there anymore!

Huge Expectations...

The train station: My father does not remember the ornaments!

What is next to the station? Play Group!!!

Very emotional this view that it is no longer open! But has still the same lettering on the window!!!

Heading to the other direction, to the bank at the corner where we took our weekly payment! Yay!

Again Queens Town Road to Battersea Park

Happy Ceren in Battersea Park!!!

This park is really beautiful and different from the other parks that I saw in London. It has a forest like feeling and you an loose your contact with the other world as soon as you enter the door. It was really like an adventure in the park! Lovely to be here again!

Next station is Kings' Road

But Chelsea College of Art has been moved from there. As London needs space, the places of arts schools are getting more and more valuable. So many school building is now under the threat of big construction companies. Even the most symbolic places are being sold to construction companies to be crashed down. Day by day the cities are loosing the original and the most aesthetic view of their soul!!! Chelsea College is lucky because it was not torn apart from the arts scene. Now the building is right next to TATE Britain. But I must say CSM lost a huge value with saying yes to move Granary Square instead of Covent Garden.

This was the end of the week...