I recently visited the RCA MA show in Kensington. There was lots of
intriguing work to see, including the work from the Goldsmithing,
Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery course. The jewellers above caught my
eye. Montague's collection interjected raw deer jaws with black horn and
acetate, creating hybrid creatures. Khazani's work used hair in a bold and
simple fashion to express it's power and beauty in a narrative context. Evelie
created a compellingly simple collection that created a sense of intimate
closeness between jewellery and the body; using hair as the medium between the
body and jewellery.
In the smaller Stevens building, I was drawn to something quite different. I'm not sure if it was an art piece, but there was a rainbow of lights that guided visitors around each room. The light changed colour on each floor. This was visible in one shot when standing in certain areas on the twisting staircase. The ornate banisters and patterned floor tiles created interesting contrasts and pockets of light. I think the space and context in which work is shown is of equal importance to the work.
russell belongs to 5% of the population that experiences a skin condition known as dermatographia OR 'SKIN WRITING'. russell explains that it is caused by the immune system's excessive release of histaminewhich results in the dilation of the capillaries when the hypersensitive skin is lightly scratched or rubbed. the subsequent welts that appear, reduce without treatment after 15-30 minutes. RUSSELL COMPARES THE EPHEMERAL AND INVOLUNTARY REACTION OF SKIN WRITING TO THE UNCONTROLLABLE NATURE OF THE BLUSH. i think russell intriguinlgy uses her disorder to draw attention to the materiality and complexity of the skin's surface. i am fascinated by the way skin can reveal so many ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES such as our emotions, ORIGIN, profession, tastE and the passing of time.
Burnt pendant, I was not prepared for a sunny burst that we recently experienced
African Scarification- body art that indicates community status and tribal groupings. Increased adoption of clothing has reduced the popularity in scarification.
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
In the Best Possible Taste: Grayson Perry
Grayson Perry has recently embarked on a mission to explore British taste across society. The first episode, shown this week, followed Perry in Sunderland. Perry explained that he has always been fascinated by taste and he wanted to discover the choices behind what we buy and wear. I am similarly intrigued by why and what we choose to surround ourselves in. One of the main features of Sunderland taste that Perry observed was the popularity of tattoos. This was explored in an interesting interview with a tattoo artist and customer. They explained that people are more willing to spend money on decorating themselves with 'art' than they are buying it for their houses. The main reason fell on the idea that more people see you outside than they do inside your house. This highlighted the importance of public display and construction of our social identities through material possessions. Perry subsequently asked whether their tattoos were a que to talk about different aspects of their personality, to which the customer responded 'I think so yeah...I enjoy telling people about the meaning'. I found this whole discussion very interesting as jewellery is also a common element of our social identities and reveals a lot about taste. Perry's journey culminates in the production of six panoramic tapestries that illustrate his interpretation of C21st taste in Britain. These tapestries are soon to be displayed at the Victoria Miro museum http://www.victoria-miro.com/exhibitions/_429/.
Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama has recently staged an interactive art piece 'Obliteration Room' in the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane; as part of her 'Look Now, See Forever' exhibition. The furnished room began as a blank canvas that was transformed, over a two week period, into an explosion of dizzying colour.Kusama effectively curated a growing environment which challenged the conventions of the 'white cube' by encouraging interaction. I find the concept of interactivity in this context quite compelling. Yayoi is well known for her immersive installations, as I find out at her recent exhibition in Tate modern. However, we were forbidden to touch or photograph anything..much to my disappointment.
Tadao Cern in a Lithuanian photographer and artist who has recently created a series of 'portraits' titled 'Blow Job'. The title refers to the gale force winds that the models were subjected to. The result was a striking and often humorous distortion of the face. Although it is a fairly simple idea, each portrait is intriguingly different. I like this idea of invisible distortion and manipulation of the skin.
A Llama in Times Square 1957
Magazine assignment by photojournalist Inge Morath. A group of television animals living with their trainers. I find the absurdity and juxtaposition quite exciting.
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