Artist Statement:

Can I make a piece of work that encapsulates pure meaning, that gets to the essence of what I am investigating?
I am intrigued with the nature of pure information, that is not conditioned or fixed and is forever changing. The problem is, how do I show its presence in a piece of work, that by its very nature is conditioned and needs physically fixed perameters to transfer meaning.
Continuing with the theme of essence and trying to make work that doesn't shut the door for the viewer by handing it's meaning out on a plate, and saying 'I mean this and nothing else,' I have have made two main pieces: 'Withholding information is the first sign of intelligence' and 'Screwed.''Withholding information is the first sign of intelligence' is made up of 12 clip boards holding one blank newspaper and a blank tie-on label each, it is organised and clean. Visually the piece is compelling and it invites the viewer to look and wonder what it is about. Most of my peers haven't come up with an answer, which is encouraging! But joking aside, it had the effect that Magritte wished for his work. He did not want the viewer to be able to explain what his images meant, he wanted to present them to the void, to a mystery that had no answer and stopped the conditioned responses. 'Screwed' is juxtapositioned with 'Withholding information is the first sign of intelligence' and is of quite a different nature - it is messy, emotional and unpredictable. Both pieces, which can work as individuals or together, are about the essence of information and its nature. I would like to see them in a much bigger space taking up whole walls, so that the viewer can then engage with the pieces to a much fuller degree.

'This idea of the book is not rooted in the psychological function for the artist, nor cultural function for the writer. Instead, The Book functions as a metaphysical investigation which focuses on the possibility that form (in the most abstract and philosophical sense) might be realised through 'The Book.' Johanna Drucker (1995) The Century of Artists Books.

I want to see how it works when I use the medium of 'The Book' to witness and document the processes of actions and investigations. In this case these books form part of my investigations into the nature of information and are in a book called the 'Book of Books' which is first in a series that documents my work.

Impossible or not I am trying to create a book that carries the essence of its subject matter.

This idea of the book is not rooted in the psychological function for the artist, nor cultural function for the writer. Instead, The Book functions as a metaphysical investigation which focuses on the possibility that form (in the most abstract and philosophical sense) might be realised through &#147;The Book.&#148;&#146; </I>Johanna Drucker (1995) The Century of Artists Books.

I want to see how it works when I use the medium of &#145;The Book&#146; to witness and document the processes of actions and investigations. In this case these books form part of my investigations into the nature of information and are in a book called the &#145;Book of Books&#146; which is first in a series that documents my work.

Impossible or not I am trying to create a book that carries the essence of its subject matter.

These paintings are part of an investigation into signs but with a hint of humourous ambiguity. I wanted to see if I could get the message across with as little complication as possible in the image and re-enforce clarity through the titles. I was very much playing with my subject matter.

Francesca Treasure