Reflections of Tom Ford in a washing machine
Reflections of Tom Ford in a Washing Machine
Short recap
Shot by a Washing Machine Drum looked at everyday objects and how they can represent a place. For example, the inside drum of a washing machine represented the atmosphere of a laundrette. A new way of looking at something familiar, like a washing machine, can help us find new ways to look at difficult situations.
Blown up Sheds also looked at everyday objects and how we still keep them in a shed when they have served their purpose but we’re not ready to let go. The objects may represent our ideas, sometimes they have served their purpose but we are unaware, or reluctant to let them go.
Bringing these concepts together can enable us to approach our ideas in a unique way and to gain greater clarity,
To gain insight into how you are thinking.
The problems you may be facing.
Or when you just need inspiration.
Try these steps.
They may encourage you to think outside the box and adopt a flexible creative approach to problems.
Take an idea and decide which object represents it
Look at the physical object from a new angle
Apply this new angle back to the original idea
In practice
The idea is my present. Where am I now? The object that represents this is a washing machine. We spend quite a lot of time together, it works, it cleans every day, and it hums a little tune when it’s finished. I have gratitude that it gets on with it with the minimum of fuss.
Looking inside it the drum it is clean, cool, and has a balance of symmetry. Ordered patterns reflect the colours of whatever is placed within it. The degree and clarity of reflection depends on the light shone into the drum.
Applying this to the present gives me the chance to make sense of some ideas. Do I feel the present has this balance of symmetry? If it’s looking confused is that because I’m looking at reflections rather than the actual subject, or problem? Is my level of understanding dependant on how much light or attention I’m paying to it?
Sometimes with this exercise you can gain insights straight away, and sometimes you feel the resistance.
Good, either way you’re on the right path!
If you would like to run through ideas like this, one on one, just click here to arrange a complimentary 15 minute online session.
Show Your Work
Reflections of Tom Ford came from placing Vogue September 2019 in the washing machine drum. The green and pink reflections are from the “A Man for All Seasons” photograph of Tom Ford in his Los Angeles rose garden. https://www.vogue.com/article/man-for-all-seasons-tom-ford
Adobe Lightroom for cropping my photograph of my washing machine. I didn’t use filters as I wanted to keep the pink and green reflections original.
Washing machine drum inspiration from https://www.robert-goetzfried.com/
Cornelia Parker’s work continuing to inspire https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/parker-cold-dark-matter-an-exploded-view-t06949
Bill McBee’s photographs https://unsplash.com/@squam_lake?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText
Lastly, my husband who held the torch and the washing machine drum so we could take this picture. Sometimes looking at things differently produces a lot of laughter and fun.
