In launching Frames of Reference, my journey thus far has seen me face a variety of challenges. While many of the trials I have encountered have been uniquely mine as a sole-trader pioneering a new business format, one challenge that I know to be more commonly shared among individually-led start-ups is loneliness. Not only does the specter of loneliness frequently loom over those setting out on their own, but it is arguably one of the hardest challenges to contend with in that it can be an emotional, intangible and illusive haunting. It is also not always readily talked about. I therefore wanted to share some honest thoughts, feelings and reflections on my experience of loneliness, and hopefully dispel the notion that loneliness is anything other than natural.
This week’s Frame in Focus is our website example FoR the Happy Couple. We’ve therefore been contemplating the way that marriage can be represented in art, along with the ramifications of its representation.
This week’s Frame in Focus contemplates a set of Frames that were created to celebrate the friendship between a trio of actresses. As such, friendship has been something that we’ve been musing upon this week in the studio.
At a time in our collective history where social media and digital technology has become a dominant medium of communication, there has been a somewhat ironic societal increase in people feeling isolated. Perhaps this is why friendships – especially female friendships – are becoming a popular focus in many creative endeavours. Shows such as Girls, Broad City and Playing House promote this idea, while books like A Little Life have been received with great acclaim in the literary world. Could it be that we are tiring of those success narratives that stress the importance of our jobs, owning houses and especially our romantic connections, with little regard being given to our social successfulness? Are we becoming more aware of the potential permanence and thus additional value in our friendships by contrast to the sexual, romantic and professional ties that we can now obtain through apps, and can walk away from with relative ease?
An entry from Founder and Creative Director, Phil:
‘Where it all began’ is a dogma that has most likely been debated since ‘the beginning’ itself. And however intangible ‘the beginning’ may seem, Creation and Origin Stories have long-held a captivating charm for me. Such stories seem curiously pertinent when considering the beginnings of Frames of Reference – not least because they are often penned in the reflections of anthropologists and documented through ancient art.
This blog is a site of consideration, reflection and conversation for all things Frames of Reference. The work we carry out at FoR can be emotionally, intellectually and artistically varied. Yet, the value of our works lie in their subtle and personal significances. We therefore felt it was essential to have a platform where we could open up a conversation about the thinking that goes into our artworks.
As a start-up, it also struck us as being important to have a space where we could charter our voyage as the company grows and as our artwork develops.
This blog will therefore encompass multiple elements. It will detail some of the specific artworks that we have been creating; unpacking the stories and sentiments that channelled their creation. It will also diarise key events and progressions within the history of FoR as a company. And finally, it will at times offer up reflections from the spheres of anthropology and art as we think through the worlds we create and the worlds we come to inhabit with each project that comes our way.
We thank you for reading, for your comments and for your support. As a company that thrives on your thoughts as its inspiration, Frames of Reference would be very little without you.
