Things to ponder...

"With the development of science and explanation came a loss of wonder as Keats wote on Newton,
"unweaving the rainbow"

Results of the Lemelson-MIT Survey 2003:

"Teens are inspired to invent but seek encouragement from elders.
The survey also revealed that teen creativity leads to inventive ideas. In fact, more than a third of all teens (36%) reported having a great idea for a unique invention. When asked what would motivate them to take the next step in developing ideas for a unique invention, nearly half (43%) of the teens surveyed agreed that encouragement form parents of teachers is the key."

Artist to look at - Chiharu Shiota

Installation

Artists to look at - A.J. Linter - Collage

A.J. Linter - 1935-2007 - Hamburger, Junctions


Collage often involves the extraction of imagery from its original source and re-placing it within a new context so as to manipulate and accentuate it's meaning. In Linter's work what we see is a collection of images brought together by association. By simply arranging images, next to, on top of, around he instantly creates a constellation of visual signs resulting in an overall theme. What the viewer sees is a blended mirage of layers and meaning.

By comparing both Hamburger and Junctions what we can see in both is a sort of case study, as if by looking at these pieces we can gleam an insight into American/ Modern culture. Linter works with the subject's form in order to accentuate the subject's role and function. His patterns and textures take our eyes on an meandering journey, absorbing his carefully selected clues so as to build up an overall impression. In Junctions our eye travels along a confusing path with no end; a representation of the vast and intricately woven network of roads that serve to bring places closer together. At the same time the chaotically arranged junctions spiral into an unnerving maize much like when one takes that fateful wrong turn. On one hand Linter manages to evoke the relentless pace of modern life owing much to the invention of the road, on the other, this web of pathways bridging gaps between countries and communities.

Linter has formed a visual fingerprint of American culture in his piece, Hamburger. Fast food, Disney cartoon and political references litter the space, immediately evoking the associations now inherant to these institutionally recognised icons. By choosing your images carefully you can insert and provoke meaning just by association. For instance, by placing the American flag next to a McDonalds sign our brain assumes it is a comment on American eating habits, whereas if you were to replace the Amercian flag with an image of organic vegetables our brain would forge a debate between healthy and unhealthy food. We just have to look at the world of branding and advertising to know that images play an essential role in consumerist society, subliminally and on the surface. By juxtaposing and blurring pictures you can create impact without words.


Visit: www.ajlinter.com

Artist to look at - Annette Messeger

Mixed Media

Artists to look at - Michael Landy - Installation

Michael Landy's - Art Bin at the South London Gallery

Collection or Counter-Collection?

From the artist who destroyed his possessions to free himself from the consumerist strong-hold in which values are dependent upon objects, comes a similar project the Art Bin. Tackling the notion of failure Michael Landy asked artists such as Tracy Emin and Mark Titchner to donate to the Bin work they deamed a 'failure'. Consequently what materialised was a pile of artistic rubbish that prior to binning had been consciously kept for reasons of emotional attachment. What Landy questions is why we uphold emotional connections to these objects? By throwing away our failures are we cleansing ourselves, or are we banishing that which serves to remind us of our weaknessses? There is something honest about this public display of failure that in some way provokes in the viewer a sense of relief that no one is picture perfect.

Is this a collection? - If we think of a collection as a collation of things we intend to be kept then is the Art Bin the antithisis of this?

Is this a counter-collection? - If the Art Bin is literally a collection of objects whose purpose it is to be destroyed, then does this piece act as a counter-collection using what it means to collect as a way of acting against it? - Objects collected under the notion of 'failure' and destroyed on this basis too.

See links below:

South London Gallery - Michael Landy - Art Bin 2010
BBC News - 'Man 'destroys' life for Art'

Artist to look at - Jerry Uelsmann

Photography