First I would like to mention that I was preparing to take more comercially orientated course MA Communication Design at St Martin and finally I was admitted for MA Digital Arts Course which seemed for me close to it.
Remi Piechura
Artist Statement
As a photographer and digital manipulator I would like to further develop my abilities in contemporary design by undertaking not clearly defined studies like Photography or Graphic Design as I have chosen in the past, but an interdisciplinary course focused on Digital Media and involving also typography, editorial design, interactive digital media design. This unique set perfectly matching my interest is part of the MA Communication Design Course; the priority would be in such case to broaden my software portfolio especially with 3D digital manipulation programmes, simultaneously exploring new key areas in the contemporary visual communication profession. Communication channels are under constant and rapid evolution and for me, as a designer, it means that my work will often be difficult to define within just one area of design, fluently involving a bit of them all.
Visual communication is a language within itself, very similar to written and spoken language, with its own rules and elements. As a visual communicator and an artist for the last 10 years, my primary goal at all times is to design and communicate a message to a specific audience using the language of visual communication, fascinating as a global and lively tool rapidly evolving with new technologies. Much like a poet puts together a poem using words, I try to create a deeply meaningful visual composition. This goal is achieved so far through a process involving photographic work and compositional arrangement of the images, arriving at the final visual message, which I call a “photocomposition”.
When gathering a pool of visual material for my artwork, I perform myself all the stages of the process: research, imaging, image selection, analysis and manipulation. In all cases I do not differentiate between “old” and “new” technologies, making digital media my first choice for pure commodity and individual fascination with the new possibilities that follow this, one of a few, tool of communication.
The final composition is the outcome of interconnections between reality, imagination, education and experience, often inspired by the works of Rene Magritte, Jerry Uelsmann, Ryszard Horowitz and others. However, when choosing my path I tried to combine artwork and advertising projects, completing MFA in Photography and Graphic Design studies in Poznan (Poland) with a more pro-client approach of a MA in Photography course at the renowned Lodz Film School (Poland) and of a partly completed MFA in Creative Photography course at California State University, Fullerton (USA). This match of different experience gave me a unique perspective on visual communication, integrating a sound art background typical for art studies in Eastern Europe with a touch of a more pro-technical American approach.
Consistently following both paths, on the one hand I exhibit and sell artwork, mainly in the USA, where I am represented by the Studio Gallery, Irvine, CA, and by the Kolibri Art Studio, Pallos Verdes, CA. On the other hand, I have gained professional experience as a freelancer in advertising starting in 1995 with local Poznan advertising agencies to work at present for the biggest world network agencies in Warsaw, Poland (since 2000) with my own photographic and computer studio (The Apple Garden Studio). More details concerning my advertising work and selected clients such as Saatchi and Saatchi, Grey, Leo Burnett and projects for, among others, Toyota, Heineken, Finlandia, LOT Polish Airlines are available at my personal website HYPERLINK “http://www.remipiechura.com” www.remipiechura.com.
In the longer term I plan to create a production house and retouching studio for worldwide most demanding clients, without need for eye-to-eye meetings but rather undertaking all steps of production communication online. The studio will group a team of leading professionals from Eastern Europe and, when possible, it will make use not only of the ideas proposed by the client’s art directors, but also of the team’s own creativity.
Study proposal(previous)
Ideas and subject matter that I wish to explore and develop:
The Communication Design course addresses a number of areas that I wish to develop; my main interest area is the Digital Media pathway, with special attention to 3D manipulation techniques and newest software developments, including interactive digital media. These last two subject matters are the ones I have least experience in and wish to incorporate into my activities as a visual communicator. My goal is to be flexible as an artist, to respond to the needs of the rapidly changing digital communication environment and to enrich my work making use of modern multi-disciplinary technological developments.
With this same purpose in mind, I would like to explore at the same time other key areas of design as editorial design, typography, information design; this is the reason why I chose a multi-disciplinary course, emphasising research and experimentation in those forms and structures of communication that are perfectly complimentary to my current knowledge and abilities.
(b) My knowledge and experience of making work in this and related areas
I have had so far the opportunity to study in detail Photography and to develop my abilities as a digital image manipulator (Photoshop software) for the last 10 years – in the first place by completing MFA in Photography and Graphic Design studies in Poznan (Poland), a MA in Photography course at the renowned Lodz Film School (Poland) and partly completing a MFA in Creative Photography course at California State University, Fullerton (USA); in the second place by gaining professional experience successfully exhibiting and selling my works, which I call “photocompositions”, in Poland and abroad, working both with art galleries and advertising agencies. I will be happy to share my experience in these domains, while gaining expertise in other disciplines of visual communication.
(c) Longer term career objectives and / or intentions
As an artist I am very much interested in an exchange of experience not only interdisciplinary but also international; I have a hunger of exploration. My future plans of heading a production house and retouching studio for worldwide clients require I constantly develop my abilities, open my mind to international markets and explore new ideas and forms of communication through experimentation, practice and debate in new social contexts.
(d) Skills I wish to acquire
Visual communication requires not only imagination and design abilities but also technical skills; when it becomes digital it requires constant development of software knowledge and practice with the newest technologies.
I wish to develop my skills in digital media by broadening my software portfolio (especially 3D programmes and interactive media design, Illustrator and newest technological developments) and by analysing and discussing contemporary processes in new media. Thanks to research and experimentation in other forms of visual communication, I wish to acquire skills in a set of key design areas: typography, storytelling using a blend of communication channels, editorial design and information design.
Facilities and support
Computer laboratories: 3D, Photoshop, Illustrator and other visual design software; image development laboratory: hand and digital techniques; support and context for experimentation, practice and debate; support for lively exchange of experience with high level professionals, possibly including successful practitioners from outside the course.
Additional information
While completing my studies with the Communication Design course, I plan to explore as well other knowledge and experience resources: unique London modern art galleries and museums, meet contemporary artists and design professionals, travel around the country to add to my 40 000 stock photo library new works, inspired both by the landscape and by the impressive and unique cultural heritage of Great Britain, one of the world leading art centers.
Up to now I have visited and presented my works at some leading post production and retouching houses in London (Saddington&Baynes, MPD, Nexus, Taylor&James) what has been a good opportunity to make myself known and to observe their work in the process of production of high-end digital photocompositions. To add to my experience I would like to undertake a part-time job with one of such world leaders in commercial design.
The course at one of world’s best art colleges together with its London entourage will be an invaluable experience and inspiration for both fine art and commercial work, giving a British and international dimension to my career.
