Carmen McNally's Art

Final Evaluation in the Exhibition The exhibition went really well, and it felt great to see all the hard work come together. It was exciting to show ‘Memory Layers’ in a finished space, surrounded by other creative work. Seeing my piece hanging properly with the perspex layers in place made me feel proud of what I had achieved. The clear perspex allowed the photo of Gipsy Hill to both be noticed and obscured at the same time, just like real memories that are not clear. I was happy with the overall look of the display, however, there wasn’t much natural light, so I decided to use a couple of spotlights. This really allowed my perspex layers to pop, as the edges started to glow pink and purple colours from the screen printing. It was really magical. People responded well to my work. A couple said they recognised the photograph of Gipsy Hill and felt a connection to the theme and place and how it's interesting that certain streets or landmarks can hold meaning and memories. I had a...

Final Major Project Evaluation- 'Memory Layers' For my Final Major Project called 'Memory Layers', I created a mixed media piece that focuses on memory, place, and personal history. The main photograph in the work shows Gipsy Hill, the road I used to walk up and down every day on my way to the train station. This view means a lot to me. It holds so many memories from my childhood and early adult life. When I was younger, the skyline in the distance only had a few tall buildings. Canary Wharf was one of them. Now, the skyline is full of towers, and the city feels like it has changed so much. Even though Gipsy Hill has stayed quite the same, the city beyond it keeps growing and changing, just like life has for me. To add more meaning to the piece, I created five perspex layers that sit in front of the photo. Each one represents a part of my journey growing up in South London. One shows Tower Bridge, which I used to cross nearly every day on my way to work. Another is...

Now that Memory Layers is finished and on display, I feel really proud of how everything has come together. Taking out the white perspex layer and replacing it with a clear one was the right decision. It has allowed the photograph of Gipsy Hill to really come through and opened up the whole piece. You can now see the full view clearly, and the layered elements feel more balanced. The clear perspex helps create a sense of depth, without hiding the original image, which is so important to the meaning behind the work. I’m really pleased with how it looks in the space. The hanging layout has worked well, the different layers feel like they’re floating in front of the photo, which adds to the feeling of memory and time passing. Each element stands out while still working as part of a whole. There’s a calm and thoughtful mood when you view it, and I hope people will connect with the personal stories behind it. I’m so happy I trusted my instincts and made changes when I needed to. The vide...

 The Video below show me installing my piece. The next video shows me making changes to one of the layers.

Below is my allocated space. I was originally supposed to show 3 piece, however I didn't manage to complete the cyanotype piece. The space works well for the 'Memory Layers' piece. If i could change one thing it would be the lighting as its a little dark in my space. I need to hang my perspex layers on the wooden beams but I need to work out the distance between them before I fix them into space. So far, I am not blown away about how my piece is beginning to look as I put it together. I feel that the pillar on white perspex is too overpowering over the background. I will continue putting it together but in the meantime I want to see if I can make up this pillar onto clear perspex if I have the time.  

In the video below, I speak about the hurdles I had to navigate through and how I overcame them. I know the small mistakes will only be noticed if I point them out, so I’m not going to beat myself up about them. I’m proud of how I improvised and found ways to get the layers cut out successfully. It showed me that I can problem-solve under pressure and still create something I’m happy with.