CIR.CUM.BEND.I.STUFF
James Dixon
Sound construction 1, sound construction 4
The work I produce seems centred around themes of motion and sound. Growing up in a deaf household, I believe has given me an entirely different appreciation for music and noise in all its forms. Additionally, having never properly learned sign language and growing up with what might seem like sporadic motions and movements being used as a main form of communication (and only being able to guess what they mean) left me in awe of pure motion as a linguistic and even descriptive device.
I have always had a deep interest in materials and machines. I would think about the way things work- their mechanisms, secrets and makeup- I may not have perhaps understood their original intended function, but would instead imagine other ways in which their movements and properties could be repurposed for other means. As a child I would try to replicate such mechanisms using whatever toys or materials were to hand- and I believe this is key in my work today as the materials guide the work just as much as the ideas behind them. Using mainly materials that you might find around your house or at the local hardware store I use them in such a way to fulfil roles that they might have never originally been intended to. Through this re-purposing I create objects and machines that are recognisable in their makeup but perhaps not in their function.
The installation of my work in a space is just as important to me as its finished composition. The problem solving and slightly Heath-Robinson approach to the entire installation process is to me, a form of drawing- and reflects the processes in the construction of its accompanying works. Often you can trace the thought processes behind the installation process by looking for traces of elements that have been added and removed as the installation has progressed naturally.
Interaction and animation both play a role in my practice though the interaction may not be initially realised by the audience. Surprise comes naturally to many people who see my work for the first time, though to describe why would defeat its nature. So it is best to find this out for yourself.