Experimentation and Outcome Preparation: Placement
When setting up my installation, I decided to play around with the placement of the tableware so I can make the best possible outcome. I started with placing the plates and placemats.
I chose to put two next to each other on the longer sides of the table at first as this seemed the most obvious way to set it up, to me at least because this is how we have our table set at home. I quite liked it actually it made it seem like a unit although I can see how it could be inferred to look like two opposing sides and creates a kind of divided front.
I then tried it with a place on each side of the table. Though this wasn't initially how I had envisioned the piece, it seems to work quite well. I spoke to others and they agreed that having four on each side highlights how individual the people are yet their still able to be grouped together as a whole. It also doesn't leave any gaps or breaks in formation which makes the piece look more unified and full of words. I haven't yet seen it in UV lighting as the bulb I had was faulty and couldn't be powered safely. I then went to a local lighting company and asked if they had alternatives and they have which means my project can go on. The lights aren't getting delivered until Thursday however so it will be pretty last minute that I see the final result.
I then tried the pieces with and without the vase and flower in the middle and I think it looks better with it as the vase breaks up the centre of the table and the tallness of the flower leads the eye up and to the pictures hanging on the walls. The next experiment is which flowers. I initially used ones that look like a tree branch because of the symbol of family trees. However, I was worried that the taller branches were distracting and tried it with a smaller bunch of artificial flowers, spray painted white. I think the shorter flowers look weird and as before, the taller branches lead the eye to the art on the walls.
I think the piece looks better with the placemats rather than without as it adds a level so they're raised higher and give more importance, whilst making a barrier between the tablecloth and the plates. I think it works well being plain as it provides a needed break from all the UV writing.
Next I tried experimenting with napkins and folding. The napkins I've got however are very large and so I' m going to prime some fabric and cut it down to a more manageable size. though we tried many different styles and I prefer the more complex folding, I think what looks best for this piece is the napkin folded into a plain triangle to the side of the placemat. This means the napkin doesn't distract from the plates and doesn't cover them either as it had done before.
