This week has been half term and I have been able to do my own work.
As part of my practice I always research, to inform, develop, and reference my work and help me define my goals within my work.
My current project is based on “reconstructing” my past work considering nature, the elements, and the circle of life.
I am focusing on the completion, or ending to this work.
In this weeks research I have been looking at artists that destroy their work.
I started looking at Michael Landy and Heather Benning, and then to an article by Flavor Wire on 10 artists who destroy their work.
This research has led me to focus my practise on the “reconstruction” rather than “destruction” of my work.
I am considering what is left through documentation of the process and the physical remnants like ash, the memories, the afterlife or next life, the time in which a work “lives”.
(all images from google image).
My definition of the words I am using:
“reconstruction” using artwork to re-create something, break down, shred, burn, rot, cut up
“Destruction”: the end, a violent word, gone, finished, completed, something is lost, it is a negative word.
“Lives”: the time that a work is relevant, exists, has a purpose, is aesthetically current (trends).
Research websites:
http://www.artangel.org.uk/projects/2001/break_down
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/feb/13/artsfeatures.arts
http://www.southlondongallery.org/page/michael-landy-art-bin
http://www.businessinsider.com/destroyed-art-2011-5?op=1
http://www.tate.org.uk/about/our-work/conservation/time-based-media
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Fischli_%26_David_Weiss
This work is created by Sophie Mayer
©www.sophiemayer.com
Sophie Douglas and The Arts School 
Lovely, thoughtful post.
Thank you!