I am concerned about additional constraints implemented by RMIT this semester impacting on my final year outcomes and grades. It is essential to consider the financial impact these new constraints have had, in that I am unable to use my home darkroom for study purposes.
I have budgeted and purchased enough darkroom and printmaking supplies (hardware and consumables) to ensure my development of practice and project outcomes for submission.
This planning has kept my expenses manageable and provided the security of being able to continue my study as I do not need to worry about outsourcing.
It is important to reiterate that Materiality is a critical part of my practice.
To maintain this materiality under the current circumstances I have produced my end of semester project as a printed book.
I have had to choose potentially sub-par materials to keep the cost down as it was not in my budget. This includes the cover, paper stock, book size and number of pages. The short-run/print on demand (POD) service places their corporate brand/logo on all orders. They charge an additional 25% to remove it which is money I don’t have.
Unfortunately, this means I have worked very hard all year only to produce a final semester project, that I feel, falls short of an acceptable standard for submission.
I am concerned that this, through no fault of my own, may impact on my grades.
On the flip side, the steps that I have taken throughout 2020 show my resilience and resourcefulness under adverse circumstances.
Side note.
Reflecting is relative.
I have worked for 15 years with a time limit of 3-15 minutes per shoot. No flash. No tripod. No monopod. No staging. No repeats. No going back another day.
60 seconds is a lifetime.
It feels that I am expected to adopt the fears and self-doubts others have of their own practice.
Fuck that.
Another side note.
I am also concerned that I am being encouraged to take on others love of being traumatised.
Fuck that too.