presentation given to MA Book Art Students at Camberwell

1. when is a piece of work finished?
2014

2. OED dictionary definition
finish
bring or come to an end,
complete;
to reach the end of a task or race etc
consume all of;
put final touches to;
last stage point where a race etc ends,
complete state.

3. making books
does the book have specific concerns
around the idea of finish?
consider various elements and their
relation to finish in the context of book.

4. idea
where do they come from?
what if any is the role of research?
are they moulded to ‘consider’ the
format/form of books?
what are you attempting to
communicate?

5. content
design
layout
form/structure
how does the content relate
to your intention?

6. choice of materials
paper wood plastic ink etc
do certain materials have a
finished state?

7. physical qualities of materials
appearance
weight
texture
colour
size
is there a particular balance
in relation to the materials
and the factors above?

8. factors effecting choice
intention - brief
function - functionality
timescale
budget
audience
is it important to know the
‘brief’ to make a judgement
around ‘finishedness’?

9. location - space
gallery
library
shop
on-line
how does the space complete
the work?

10. what do you need from a piece of work in
relation to the idea of finish?
as a maker - as a viewer

11. what judgements do you make?

12. what makes it finished?

13. so

14. consider the role of
maker
viewer
around the criteria you use to evaluate
when/if a piece of work has finishedness

15. what elements would you have in your
diagram or equation?

16. material
/
matter
content
intention

17. F=Ci F=finished piece
i=idea fully communicated

18. I+C+M=finished
M=materials
C=content
I=intention

19. Shared experience maker - purpose
viewer - respect/understanding = finished(

20. maker = viewer
decide - display

21. i r
t u
_ _+ = f
maker
i = intention
t = thought process
r = realisation
u= understanding
viewer
o = open mind
( )
o

22. to say something + durable + well made + to produce
+ =
define = reaction = wholeness = finite

23. PP + M + U + T = F
2 2 2
PP = physical presence
M = meaning (intent & readability)
U = understanding intent
T = taste (target audience)
F = finished
2
2
2

24. 8
=
making
finishedness
intuition
reaction
inspiration

25. a work is finished when 2 + 2 = 5

26. viewer
artist
I
A
P
O
M
B
M
M
A

27. An + - / x = zn
x ) - ; + (
z = tools
.. .
. -.
8
8
(F1+c1=u)x( - + - )=F1
F = form
C = content
U = understanding
M = maker
V = viewer
C = communication
I = interaction
M
V
C
I

28. o v
m u
- + -
( )= success
O = objects
M = materials
V = viewers
U = understanding
A = action

29. f = s
f = finished
s = started

30. (g+l) x C = Finished
g = goal reached
l = looking polished
c = contentness
h = happy

31. your turn

32. attempt to create an equation/diagram
for the idea of finishedness

33. individually

34. in pairs

35. OED dictionary definition
finish
bring or come to an end, complete;
to reach the end of a task or race etc
consume all of; put final touches to;
last stage point where a race etc ends,
complete state.

36. Entry: finished
Function: adjective
Definition: cultivated
Synonyms: accomplished, all-around,
classic, consummate, cultured, elegant,
expert, exquisite, flawless, impeccable,
many-sided, masterly, perfected, polished,
professional, proficient, refined, skilled,
smooth, suave, urbane, versatile
Concept: superiority

37. Entry: complete
Function: adjective
Definition: finished
Synonyms: accomplished, achieved, all
over, all-embracing, all-inclusive, attained,
compassed, concluded, consummate, done,
done with, down, effected, ended, entire,
executed, fini, finished off, full, full-fledged,
home free, perfect, plenary, realised,
sweeping, terminated, thorough
Concept: achievement

38. Entry: finished
Function: adjective
Definition: complete
Synonyms: accomplished, achieved,
brought about, ceased, closed, compassed,
completed, concluded, consummated,
decided, discharged, dispatched, disposed
of, done, done for, done with, effected,
effectuated, elaborated, ended, entire,
executed, final, finalised, fulfilled, full,
lapsed, made, over, perfected, performed,
realised, resolved, satisfied, settled, sewed
up, shut, stopped, terminated, through,
tied up, worked out, wound up, wrapped up
Concept: completeness

39. Entry: done
Function: adjective
Definition: accomplished
Synonyms: a wrap, all in, all over,
brought about, buttoned up, compassed,
complete, completed, concluded,
consummated, depleted, done in, done
with, down, drained, effected, effete,
ended, executed, exhausted, finished,
fixed, fulfilled, over, perfected, performed,
realised, rendered, set, spent, succeeded,
terminated, through, used up, wired,
wrought
Concept: completeness

40. is finished an issue ?
can we (do we want to)
create a structure/model where finished is
not an issue ?

41. what specific role do the audience have in
the completion of a bookwork ?
can/do the audience finish the work ?
physically
spiritually
emotionally

42. does an idea only succumb to the concept
of finish, finished, finishedness within a
capitalist structure?
i.e. commodity
tradable
commercial

43. dematerialization of object
role of artists skills
process experts
lateral thinking
creative problem solving
material understanding
communicators

44. alternative structures
‘buying’ an idea
authorship
intervention
internet

45. is an object on the journey to what it is?
or
is it is destroyed as it finished, completed,
exhausted - dead ?

46. Jessica Hagy – http://thisisindexed.com

47. Jessica Hagy – http://thisisindexed.com

48. www.informationisbeautiful.net

49. www.justinmullins.com