The Thoughts

What my peers think and feel about my work

Provocative minimalist sadism - Johnathan Barrett

It is an in depth evaluation into the over analysis of the human mind when contemplating the ethical responses to both death and life, portrayed through a sense of a highly provocative nature, embedding the moral wrongs situated within humanity - Anna Ingram

Jarred's work makes me think quite deeply about things that to most people wouldn't matter. He questions the values we have in life and may take for granted. but what about when we are given the options to take away or give these important factors? He has already made fantastic work on the values of life and death, and currently this year is looking at morals. If I am honest I am still unsure what to make of this current work, but I have no doubt he will make something I will want to tell my friends and family about with great enthusiasm - Lorna Rogerson

Well, to me your work has a distinctive feel of shock about it. For me your work is a bit unnerving (and I mean it in a good way, as in it makes me like your work) because it makes you think about yourself, your personality and morality and even the everyday decisions that you make daily which you don’t really think about when you go about your day, basically it makes you question yourself. I think your work tends to veer towards being more conceptual, (and again I mean it in a good way) (I have to mention this cause as you might know I'm not too much into conceptual art) because it has a certain look to it which is simple (mainly computer generated or built and painted white) yet it works really well with your work because the meaning and the importance of your work comes from the text in it, and I think it wouldn’t work as well if it didn’t have that almost minimalistic look to it - Triin Birnbaum

I think that it is very interesting because the question you ask cause debate, especially if I put them to people that have a different point of view to me. At the same time I wonder if the effect would be increased if they weren't altogether hypothetical - Ella Catone

Jarreds work, although not for the morally squeamish-focuses direct, unfaltering attention on to particular issues of human morality ethics and morality which for the most part as individuals, we are extremely keen to avoid making decisions about.
He questions the potential within us all to contemplate the extent to which our moral sensibilities can be pushed...and whether given the stimulus, we could break all moral boundaries that hold us back within ordinary, everyday life. I often joke that Jarred has the mind of a serial killer, but in all seriousness, his artistic fascination with the darker side of the human psyche exposes many intriguing, and often entirely disturbing; insights into the minds of those closest to us - Helen Davies

Every time I look in what you do or get one of your questionnaires I feel like you are not simply just questioning human morality. I don’t know why but every time I watch a film to do with experiments you probably noticed I'm mentioning them to you cause cant help it but think about your work whilst watching them. I realise that you came up with something ''arty'' e.g. the balance piece and the box, they are not just a piece of work, if people read beyond the notice ''if you put ...someone ...will die '' is very much human philosophy rather than concept. But I see that as a good thing, if people feel moved by what you do or even the questions you ask them then they will follow you and your progress ...I do anyway. I like your mind Mr, I like it cause you think outside “the box.” Oh and as for questioning death, the causes, the possible easier choices, or the power to hold the button to ''life'' or ''death''. I personally have a easy approach on death, it doesn't scare me. Sometimes I wonder whats beyond that (afterlife possibilities) so I'm not scared to take a life in saving 100 not killing 100 to save one, guess you always choose who matters more. Typically people will always choose ''the self'' so they will push a button if ''someone...somewhere...will die'' ...they don’t know who that is or who it will be... - Anastasia Balanel



Jarred Knott's Wonderful Work. Mmmm where to start! I think a lot of your work may be over looked or misunderstood on first impact, just because your work is derived from so much complex theory that its not possible to unload it all onto the viewer through one piece of work. As I know about your work, and know all the research, the questionnaires, about the serial killers, and about the testing of humanity, it is easier (I think) for me to "get" and appreciate your work more than somebody who sees it as "just a sign" or "notice", etc.
One thing I've noticed in the transition from 2nd to 3rd year is a shift in the way your work makes me feel. The Second Year Endnote submissions of the donation box and button on plinths gave me a feeling of control. There were may times I'd had a bad day and came in and pressed the hell out of the button, as a way of stress relief. But maybe I was gaining control-of myself, of the situation of others? I can't have taken the message seriously or I would have killed so many people it would be mass homicide...but strangely I felt better afterwards! The wording of the pieces, using "if you" contrasted with "somebody somewhere" makes it all the more appealing. I can relieve my stress and it will affect "somebody" - an unidentified source that I feel no guilt for...until the somebody is someone I know? Either way the button is defiantly addictive...
Anyway, I digress..Your Third year pieces are completely opposite to this. Using the word "Zone" and the phrase "you are entering" makes me feel controlled, oppressed, as though I have unwillingly been placed in a zone I don’t want to be in, been categorized into category I don't agree with. It kind of makes me feel trapped! - Lauren Birkhead

Provocative, thought provoking, controversial - Garry Popple

Jarreds work is a great reflection on him self, his character and behaviour. He is an observer he stands back and watches from the outskirts, from the outside looking in, a voyeur amongst others.
Through his work he uses his observations of the habitual behaviour of others and attempts to change them, setting up social experiments that force us into making difficult and taboo choices - Sally Dyer

The work actively explores the morals and boundaries of human relationships and behaviour. It’s all good - Sam Small