ESSAY

ESSAY

My recent project theme was based around structure, which within art is the way elements of a work of art are arranged to create a sense of unity and coherence. It provides a framework for all other aspects of the work, tying the piece together and providing meaning. The exhibition itself was for Erewash Museum which focused on different historical events. My main focus from this museum was to express renewal of life through symbolism, using images of birds and bones to convey this.

My main media for this piece was string which I layered, twisted & wove to produce an image. I also used pops of colour using shiny bright red sewing thread and gold leaf. The red chest of

 the robin makes it clearer that it is a robin, but also gives a hint of fire, similar to that of a phoenix. The phoenix is a mythical bird that symbolizes renewal of life which has the same symbolism as a robin. This left the bird open to interpretation for the viewer of the piece as they could perceive it as they wish. The gold leaf acted as a sun shining through the imagery in-front, pushing forward the idea of life being continuous, as is history. The sun shines on, and historical events happen repetitively over the years, often repeating. This makes us question the importance of historical events, as it all repeats and continues in a cycle. A continuous cycle of life and death with things that happen and stories that are created during each lifetime. I have identified three artists who inform my interests in working with the body and skeletal forms.

    Exhibition Piece

The first being Dan Oliveira who is a Portuguese artist that uses wire to create sculptures of the human form, skeletons, and animals. He uses many other medias to create his pieces studying visual perception, however, his wire pieces had the biggest influence on my work. Similar to my work, Oliveira also produces images of skeletons using a single line media that can be layered and twisted to build a 3D image. Some pieces are hung by an invisible filament creating the illusion of it hovering in place. Wire uses similar techniques and produces a similar effect to string using the visual language of drawing, however they both contrast in the way they are viewed. Wire is seen to be slightly more aggressive and rough, as we know it for building fences and cages to enclose things or bind things together. The visual language of wire is not soft and friendly. If someone put wire round your hand you would feel uncomfortable and threatened and it would hurt, whereas string has a softer feel to it and is less threatening. Its often used to bind small objects together or hang things up on a wall.

Some of his pieces include other objects or materials which have an impact on the structure of the work. In some pieces he uses coloured string and hangs it in a loose way which brightens up the piece and contrasts to the stiff feel of the wire, almost bringing it to life, very similar to the way I used red thread in my work but I used it in a neater and intricate way. In others he uses coated velvet, which has a more cosy and soft feeling in contrast to the wire and helped give a slightly realistic and vibrant touch to the sculptures. Another thing I liked about Oliveira's work is when he uses taxidermy birds and combines them with wire, continuing the structural parts of their body that aren't there, such as wings or legs. This way he is mixing something realistic with something abstract by making the wire look like an underlayer / base layer for the animal, similar to bones. This links to the way our bones provide framework for our body.

The half animal half wire structure pieces he produces are similar to a piece I did during the structure topic of a raven, half alive and half deceased. Unfortunately I lost this artwork before I got the chance to finish it, however I still feel it relates to Dan Oliveira's work with the way in which he combines life form with its inner structure. Similarly, a lot of the artworks he creates combining the two, are birds. He created one of a taxidermy owl that had wire wings which focuses on a bodies inner form and structure.

My Work

David Oliveira produced an exhibition called 'Total Movement' where he began to represent the bones of the body in his work as he realised there was a lot of empty space round the visible 'skin' of his sculptures. 'I wanted to explore what I could find inside the bones (the energy, the intention, the movement)', this is a quote from an interview he did where he began to delve deeper into human anatomy, slightly touching the spiritual aspect of the body through the use of bones within his work mixed with the expressive wire media which helped symbolise the idea of energy rushing through your body. Skeletons are structures that have the same format in every human. Just like structure is the framework for art, skeletons are the framework for humans.

'Scribbled Wire Sculptures'

As for the meaning of Oliveira's work, his main interest is 'studying the visual perception applied to sculpture using the visual language of drawing.'. He focuses more on anatomy from a science perspective, whereas my work focuses on life and continuality. However, this does not close his work up to interpretation. His work still expresses a contrast between life and death when he combines a living being with the skeletal structure of it.

Marina Abramovic is a Serbian performance artist, well known for her works that challenge the limits of the mind, body and spirit. The works often invite audience participation and she is keen to explain, 'the visitor turns into the performer'. Many of these performances explore themes such as memory, time, and morality and can be considered thought provoking and controversial as she pushes the boundaries of what it is meant to be a performer, a creator, and a spectator. She stated 'I have an incredibly strong idea as to why I'm on this planet. I have to deliver. I have to lift the spirit of humans to teach people how to transcend pain.' which is reflected heavily through her performances through her close and personal 1 on 1 interactions with her audience, and the stories and rituals she represents.

Abramovic created a series of photographs and videos of her posing naked with a skeleton were inspired by Tibetan tradition whereby monks would be obliged to sleep in cemeteries during different stages of their decomposition. It looks as though she is confronting her own death as well as reflecting on continued life/being. Compared to Abramovic's work, my own work has a lighter link to spirituality, as she delves deep into different rituals and traditions around life and death from around the world, whereas my work includes symbolism around common superstitions. Within this Tibetan inspired piece, she presented life and death through a skeleton and a human body, similar to the piece I produced for my exhibition as I put a hand and a skeleton of a hand side by side, in the shape of a bird which you would do as a child to create shadow animals. The images produced in black and white are quite dark and intimidating, whereas mine seems less intense due to use of colour and the medias I chose to use. 

'Self Portrait with Skeleton'

Another performance piece she did called 'The Cleaner' expressing the relationship between Marina and Ulay. She staged the complex relationship between man and woman through multiple performances. In the end they wanted to leave each other, but meet at the centre of the Great Wall of China. They embraced each other there, and then went their separate ways, comforted by only memories of their relationship. I wanted to express this in my work; the way in which after a person disappears from our life, we are only left with memories of them. The person is now nothing but bones, and those who hold them close to their hearts will leave a gift of flowers, almost to let them know they're not forgotten.

'The Cleaner'

Following on from this I have looked at  Cam Rackam is a painter who produces works of skeletons in a colourful and light-hearted way, including bright and lively flowers that contrast with the skeleton. Rackam almost brings the skeletons to life in some of his pieces by painting them doing things a living person would do, for example, a piece called 'Moonlight Sonata' includes a skeleton playing a violin surrounded by white flowers and falling petals. He makes death appear more beautiful and playful in contrast to Marina Abramovic who presents death in a darker and more spiritual manner. Cam Rackam takes ideas around death and connects them with life in a surreal way. The flowers include a link to Abramovic's piece called 'The Cleaner' with the idea of humans only leaving behind bones and memories, and others give flowers as a sign of respect.

'Moonlight Sonata'

My Work

The piece above is another artwork I did in relation to the Structure project. It is the only piece I did using paint, as it is normally a media I avoid. I wanted to intertwine two skulls, making them overlap and connect in the centre. Although this piece is more of a tattoo style line work piece, it still relates to Cam Rackam's work as it includes the connecting of two skulls, similar to a piece he did called 'Starcrossed' which presents connection between beings in a intimate way. Abramovic also has links to this within her work, showcasing performances that express spiritual connection between beings. Furthermore, it has links to Oliveira through the way single line is used to create an image, except mine is using a 2D media, however both are high contrast materials based off the opposing coloured backgrounds we both used in our work. His used a black medium on a white background predominantly, and mine is a white medium on a black background which both really push forward the image and details within it.

Some of his other works have skulls within ice creams, and an avocado. Another is a skull wearing a surgical mask and visor, surrounded by tissue, hand sanitizer, and gloves. It is labelled as 'Essentials' in relation to covid-19. This shows Cam Rackam varies in styles and themes, sometimes having a more serious and realistic approach, and other times creating surrealism pieces that are more fun and joyful approach. Another piece he did called 'Inferno' presents a skull on fire, with reference to Dante's Divine Comedy (the layers of hell), which I spoke about and studied in one of my previous projects, again, linking this piece to the other artists and my own work in the way its connected to spiritual ideologies and superstition.

'We All Scream'

'Inferno'

This piece called 'Starcrossed' expresses a connection between two human skeletons, almost as if they are dancing or sharing an intimate moment. The flowers are almost combining to connect the skeletons together. This artwork reminds me of Abramovic's 'The Cleaner' performance again, in the way the piece relates to human connection and the complex tie between a woman and man. Human connection is an important part of life, as it is how we continue on. This links to my work and the subject of renewal of life, as without human connection, we wouldn't even be here.

'Starcrossed'

These artists hold an important link and influence to my work as they all express ideas around life and death, expressing ideologies within spirituality through symbolism and unique compositions in very different ways.

LINKS:

https://www.saatchiart.com/davidoliveira

https://zoneonearts.com.au/david-oliveira/

https://www.studiointernational.com/index.php/marina-abramovic-gates-and-portals-review-modern-art-oxford-pitt-rivers-musuem

http://www.bgeart.com/newsx/marina-abramovic-queen-of-extreme-art

https://rackam.bigcartel.com/product/moonlight-sonata-print