Understanding an audience

Understanding your audience is crucial when creating a piece of work, especially for commercial use. An artist has to know who their work is going to appeal to in order for them to get the ideas and meaning of the project across and understood. For example it’s pointless for an advert for a new state of the art car to be printed in a fashion magazine as its not appealing to the audience the product is intended for. If an artist understands and has knowledge of their audience they can enhance and focus their work on communicating with that specific group of people.

A successful piece I believe that’s in the media at the minute is Banksy’s title piece for The Simpsons. Although very controversial he has taken key issues in society today like sweatshops, child labor and animal cruelty and included them in his own title sequence for the show. The extended sequence apparently being inspired by reports the show outsources the bulk of their animation to South Korea has created a lot of debates within the media. Banksy has never been one to conform to societies expectations and is successful in his work because he knows that he is appealing to a wide audience some of which scrutinize and others that applaud his ability to bring social issues into the forefront of the media and get people talking about subjects that would otherwise be brushed under the carpet. The Simpsons is one of the most successful TV shows of our generation and is broadcast all over the world. Banksy would of known this, he would of researched past shows and known how to appeal to the shows audience whilst still portraying his point. He is communicating with over thousands of people but because he has done his research and has a knowledge of who these people are and what entertains them he has been able to successfully pass his message along to them.

The Notion of Inspiration

People draw inspiration from many things and find different ways of finding their own individual inspiration.  Whether it is on the Internet, through books, magazines or exhibitions inspiration comes from exploring and finding different medias or techniques that excite us and capture our attention.  I don’t think I have ever been inspired by just sitting inside looking at a blank sheet of paper waiting for ideas to come; you have to go out and explore or even get lost in a place that you don’t know. It is through this that you open up your mind to things you don’t normally notice, wouldn’t normally see or wouldn’t take the time actually stop and look at. Once you have your visual examples you can then sit down and experiment with them. You have the concept and research behind your ideas that make them stand-alone and stand out as an individual piece of work that people can relate to.

When I am starting a new project I always research into photographers, films, artwork or even social events that might inspire me. I love finding new artists that inspire me through their work. I went to Brian Griffins exhibition yesterday and really enjoyed it. It was set up in 3 different locations, two inside and one open air. I loved the idea of having an open-air exhibition as it means your work is open to everyone and anyone. People who wouldn’t usually see exhibitions or are unaware of them can stumble across them and be inspired and brighten up an everyday mundane task and turn it into something memorable. Below are a few examples of how the exhibition was set up.

Brian Griffin, Self portrait

This exhibition shows a wide range of Brian Griffin's photography ranging from his well-known pieces to pieces never seen before. The Location of this exhibition is based outside Birmingham's Snow Hill Station, a station that Brian Griffin used everyday while working in a factory. It was from this job he left to start his photography career.