YAYOI KUSAMA
Kusama's 'COMPULSION COLLECTION' consists of multiple sculptures which she has transformed from basic chairs that one would find in a living room, to these sexualised, intricate objects that I personally think are so effective due to the repeated shapes that she has created.
Her piece 'ACCUMULATION' I think particularly works well due to its sheer transformation from a basic chair, within this project something I am really hoping to do is use an object, and through repetition and experimenting, I hope to somewhat change its function, and make it very un obvious to what it really is. She has covered this chair with stuffed phallic protrusions which are merely overpowering due to their repeated fashion, I think her technique of repeating has almost given these structures a life of their own as they begin to create a body of similar form. Her use of repetition gives the piece a vast amount of energy, as well as sexual references I think the piece also captures life within the sea, this may be due to the curved shape she has created within each structure. From observing her use of shape I will consider my objects more carefully as I think small details on individual structures can really make a difference when they are all placed together, and this is definitely evident here.
Throughout her collection it is also evident that she considers size, and by doing so her pieces have so much depth and volume, so again, when seeing how my objects work together, I may bring in different sizes as its clear this adds to the depth of the piece - generally making it less flat and uninteresting.
Kusama's sexual phobias and revelations are defiantly prominent within this collection, from one angle, her work displays her "ambition for supremacy over men and sexual restriction, her use of repetitive and aggregate phallus form is a means to defy male power" which has been such a prominent issue in the past and sadly today. In another light, Kusama displays her hope to face her sexual anxieties, creating such a intense collection has allowed her to face her fear of sexual vision. Creating pieces which not only hold so much depth, but also have personal attachment is something I would like to tie into this project, whether its comedic or plain I think it's always effective when there is personal attachment to artwork.
'LEAF HORN, 1996'
ANDY GOLDSWORTHY
I started researching into artists who use sustainable materials and incorporate nature into their work. This is because I have even brainstorming and have realised using something that has the ability to decay could be really interesting both conceptually and aesthetically; I'm thinking I may use petals. Andy uses natural materials and also focuses on the passage of time. He believes his work is "about life and the need to understand that a lot of things won't last." I strongly believe with this outlook and think its important for humanity to register the cycle of life and death as it's such a prominent aspect to all our lives.
His piece 'Leaf Horn, 1996' is successful as it creates a form which doesn't blatantly look like a leaf, I think this is really effective but may not be what I'm aiming to do in my final piece. Generally Andy's work may embody the same conceptual pathway as me, he tries to celebrate natural form and its ability to change over time.
RESEARCH INTO MY OBJECTS
LILY POLLEN
Lily pollen is regarded as an extremely irritating part to the lily flower due to its ability to eat away at the delicate petals if it falls on the flower. It stains, can poison animals and is very messy once bloomed.
HOWEVER,
It, like all pollen is a vital food source for bees. Bees are extremely important to the environment and humanity is completely aware of this. It's estimated 1/3 of food we consume relies on pollination - bees are the insects which complete the action of pollination. So, if they are not fed and go extinct then plants, animals, fuel, clothing and human life could be at risk.
I find it interesting that humans frequently cut off the pollen from lilies and put it in the bin due to its MESSY and DAMAGING effect to the petals. When actually what people are doing is much more damaging to the world, but obviously humanity is more concerned with the aesthetic of a bouquet.
MOFFAT TAKADIWA
'EDUCATED FULLS, 2016' 'SMELL FIGHTERS, 2017'
Moffat's work truly captures the aim of our brief, which is to remove the used material from its accustomed functional context, into something new and unrecognisable. At first glance I couldn't work out what his sculptural pieces were actually made of which is something I want to embody in some of my samples, I think this could work well with the ear plugs due to their interesting colour and shape.
Moffat creates these sculptures from ordinary discarded materials like computer keys (left) and toothpaste/spray debris (right) to create these large intricate sculptures which hang off the wall. He is concerned with the environment, hence the use of recycled materials which is something I also consider when picking my materials. He also focuses on CONSUMERISM, this is evident in his clear focal point on waste, his computer key pieces really highlighted for me the waste that technology can produce. Computer keys are such a small part of a computer and they in themselves have fuelled his work due to the mass that people throw away when finished with their devices.
The main technique that I hope to embody from Moffat's work is his ability to make his materials unrecognisable through intricate weaving and peculiar form.
TATE VISIT: KEITH SONNIER
Keith's use of latex is something which intrigued me, I always viewed latex as a medium which submerges other materials, not being used as a base. I really like the finish that he has created using sawdust and pigment, texturally it's really interesting as it hasn't fallen or lost roughness. I think I will submerge some of the lily pods in latex and see if they create an interesting outcome like this has.
He attaches his pieces to the walls with latex and slowly rips it off, I think the rustic element to this is visually very exciting and is one of the main reasons I like using latex so much as it doesn't leave perfect finishes.
EVA HESSE
Hesse frequently produced artworks which thrived off innovative and peculiar material which is what I usually look at when researching her work, however this piece I also came across at the Tate very briefly. 'ADDENDUM' is a sculpture made from paper mache, wood and cord so has quite an interesting finish texturally which I would like to try myself. However, the way in which she used her 'MULTIPLES' is what I found intriguing, she systematically placed these hemispheres apart from each other in a very mathematical way with cord hanging down, but when the cord reaches the ground this mathematical pattern is disrupted as the rope coils in unpredictable loops. I think the contrast of precise to chaotic is really interesting and is something I will definitely consider when creating my own pattern work out of my chosen material.
'ADDENDUM, 1967'
GRAPHS
I found a vast amount of graphical displays highlighting the effects and causes of auditory/hearing loss during WW2. The structure of these displays are really interesting so I assume I will transform some of these shapes into pattern work.
Here are some examples of the graphs I used, measuring different things but all under the topic of auditory issues in the war.
As one of my initial materials is petals/stems which are natural objects which live a cycle, I wanted to look into the idea of TRANSITION. Looking at how artists capture the movement between states, or how they visually represent something changing.
MC ESCHER creates monochrome prints of things developing/transitioning into the most obscure outcomes. Relating to my work, I'm considering capturing the cycle of nature through petals, and coating the petals in different mediums when they are alive/withered to preserve them in order to show how their shape, colour and texture changes. (Just an idea).
'SKY AND WATER, 1938'
I think Escher's use of shape is really interesting, he clearly looks at outlines of objects in depth in order to make the transition so clean and perfect. If I decide to go through with my idea, I would want to do some illustrations in his style but with my own objects, looking at negative space and how shapes fit/ change into other shapes.
RESEARCH INTO MY OBJECTS
EARPLUGS
Earplugs have surprisingly been around for a very long time, but have evolved in terms of shape and material accordingly to the uprise in manufacture. They were originally canal caps connected to headbands of soldiers to reduce gun sounds. The harm of gun sounds has been an extreme problem within army forces due to the knock on effect on soldiers.
I decided to look into this topic more but in modern context. I came across an interesting article about the investment made in ear protection within the army as I think people forget the physical effects that soldiers suffer from as well as mental health:
OVER 3% SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2008 WERE TREATED FOR HEARING LOSS
TATE MODERN: EL ANATSUI
'INK SPLASH, 2012'
I came across El Anatsui's work at Tate Modern and it immediately reminded me of Moffat Takadiwa's work due to the technique and finish of this piece. The reason why I think it's so effective is firstly due to it's size, and also because from a far you cannot unpick what material he has used to create this metal looking structure. Like Takadiwa's work, removing the functional context of an object which in this case is flattened bottle tops, and creating something which gives them a whole new name is what I think is so intriguing for an viewer as it's challenging.
I think El Anatsui's process is something which really caught my attention, he has not just stuck loads of bottle tops together, he flattened them which massively manipulated the shape; and then weaved them together with copper wire extremely tightly. His manipulation is something I definitely want to embody when I experiment with my materials, as by doing so it veers them even further away from their original context which is what I think makes these pieces from both Takadiwa and El Anatsui so effective.
COLOUR is another element to this piece which I think brings it together and gives it more of a narrative which is clear in the title. When I select my chosen material I will really consider how I place the objects in terms of colour as creating a pattern with colour instead of shape could be interesting too.
RESEARCH INTO MY OBJECTS
TEABAGS
Teabags are a staple to the majority of British peoples homes, because of this stereotypes have formed all over the world regarding the association with tea and British people, I looked at multiple articles on tea and the majority are about it's history in regards to being a stereotype.
SNIPPET FROM AN INDEPENDENT ARTICLE:
However, teabags were not always a common house hold product, when produced by Thomas Sullivan they were viewed as just 'small sacks'. That is what I am viewing them as - something to stuff, sew and rip.
EARPLUGS
When creating some small samples of earplugs collected together the idea of maps and data sprung to mind as the samples looked busy and rich in detail. This led me to delve deeper into the history behind them and look back into their relevance in the war, and as I already know they played a rather prominent part in helping veterans not get auditory issues I was hoping there may be some graphical displays to support this which I could use when developing pattern.
https://www.nap.edu/read/11443/chapter/2
I came across multiple new articles which highlight the development and importance of using ear plugs/pieces in the war, as interestingly, disabilities of the auditory system were the third most common type of disability amongst veterans.
TEABAGS
After finding a really interesting link between earplugs and the war, I wondered if I could find something similar in regards to tea. Tea has always been such a huge part to British peoples lives, acting as a comfort to all homes, and after reading many articles I found out that it was also majorly prominent within war to provide for soldiers.
It was seen as a physical and emotional need for those who were placed in painful conditions, I did the same as I did for the earplugs and looked at some graphs highlighting how tea is a preference and a genuine asset to many peoples lives.