Summer Project 2013

I am currently studying an Undergraduate BA Fine Arts course are De Montfort University as a first year, throughout my summer I had to produce a project based on inspirational artists from a variety of different sources, such as exploring Journals of contemporary artists, exhibitions and researching the recent Turner Prize List 2013.

Sonia Gomes

     Figure 1 - Sonia Gomes, Memória, 2004,
Stitching, knots, different fabrics and laces, 140 x 270



Having researched into "ArtReview", September edition I have found myself intrigued by Sonia Gomes installations. There’s a strong sense of a human body form within her work as each material represents a symbol of layers of skin, emphasizing the different inherited generics within her persona as she comes from a multicultural background. Gomes has been inspired by her mother’s heritage of close relationships with her grandmother, midwifes and head cloth rolls. Combined with the influences of her Fathers traditions of passed down inherited objects, such as photographs and patched materials which Gomes has presented within her body of work. It creates a sense of nostalgia, reflecting upon memories, reflecting a surreal and spiritual atmosphere creating sensitive emotions.



"The idea that everything that has passed can be brought back to life again"

, Gomes believes this and portrays this narrative amongst her work, as she preserves her subjects presenting them hanging creating a sense of movement suggestive of life. This almost creates a religious aspect within the piece as the belief in life after death, the continuous journey.

Gomes has faith in a belief called Élan Vitale which is finding peace and being open minded that there’s more to the afterlife, I think this is reflected in her work as she expresses through symbolism.

Gomes uses cloth and wire to create her sculptors, the wire holds the pieces of cloth together almost preserving and holding them into place, perhaps Gomes organises them almost like a time line, of personal events and experience. The strong wire holds the pieces into place and hangs them creating a sense of energy reflecting a spiritual energy, bringing the fragile inherited subject back to life.

I find Gomes work inspiring as she has collected her personal belongings throughout her entire life to create this sculpture which represents Gomes herself, through different layering of materials which represent inherited generics through to the present. The use of the wire holding the organised materials together almost represents a time line personally; exploring different memories and experiences which have made Gomes to the person she is today. The visual language through the piece portrays Gomes personal opinions and religious elements as she explores the life cycle by preserving fragile and decayed subject which creates a spiritual atmosphere.

   Figure 2 - Duane Michal's, Christ in New York 1981

I have found myself conceptually interested in Gomes artwork, as it has a depth of meaning, using symbolic references to reflect her person life and beliefs, which recently I have found myself looking at artist such as Duane Michal’s whose a famous photographer but have similarities through portraying a personal messages of his beliefs.

Figure 3 portrays how Gomes has professionally presented her work, each sculpture individually has their own space for the audience to engage with. The subject almost become an ordinary object amongst the atmosphere, as being presented on the floor is suggestive to a living subject emphasizing the concept with. The sculpture which has been hung from the wall is suggestive of movement reflecting an element of nature, creating a sense of realism and dominance within the room replicating a presence.

Figure 3 - Sonia Gomes, Figure 3 - Sonia Gomes
 PIPA Prize Award, Exhibition, 2012

Maggie Cullen

Maggie Cullen has currently exhibited her recent work at Trattles and Geall Gallery in Whitby, which I visited this summer.
Cullen use discarded and decay books to create her sculptors using the elements of the paper to create human forms which reflect a narrative within the subject. Cullen is influenced by folk traditions, ancient legends, religious beliefs and generally everyday life of different experiences.

Figure 1 - The Fragile Alliance, Paper, Book Art
Maggie Cullen

The sculptor is has a balanced composition creates a calm and peaceful atmosphere reflecting a simplistic focus of the sensitive subject. The use of the traditional material, paper is used to create a delicate and fragile mark making reflecting the natural form highlighting unique humanity negatives such as different behaviours, experiences and personalities. The fragility of the forms reflects the human cycle of deterioration, highlighting perhaps changes. The use of the text within the piece is suggestive of a narrative perhaps Cullen has created sculptors to recreate an element of the story suggestive of an afterlife.
The subject has a limited colour pallet creating a simplistic and traditional element within piece, reflecting a subtle and calm atmosphere. I have found Cullen an inspiration as I find the use of delicacy within using paper interesting as it explores the sensitive subject of the natural life cycle exploring personal experiences. “I use the book paper to create each piece, contributing to the continued life of a discarded book” Cullen expresses which reflects a symbolic reference to the belief in the afterlife creating a spiritual atmosphere embracing a sense of hope.

Figure 2 - Persona, Detail
Lisa Kokin

Maggie Cullen reminds me of Lisa Kokins work who has created book art herself and often uses an element of text within her work, to portray a personal message perhaps relating to a memory or creating a sense of time using simplistic color pallets and a sense of deterioration. Kokin explores the “feeling of sadness and nostalgia that acquiring other people’s memories” I find myself inspired by sensitivity, detail and texture within my own practice and other artists.

 Cullen presented her work in the gallery on a shelf, which I couldn't document as I don't have a primary photograph, but I find this interesting as it's a traditional location reflecting it narrative amongst the room engaging the audience. The detailed subject forces the audience to focus and look carefully intensifying the sensitive subject.

Laure Prouvost

 Laure Prouvost has currently been announced in the recent Turner Prize list, having been presented the Max Mara Art Award from presenting her influential and sensuous installation “Swallow” in Whitechapel Gallery.

Figure 1 - "Swallow", Detail, Laure Prouvost, 2013

Provost’s video clip has been strongly influenced by her trip to Italy, where she experiences different cultures; the simplistic subjects inspired her such as street marks and lighting. Within her piece this was depicted strongly emphasizing her personal experience. The atmosphere was portrayed as calm and tranquil which reflected the nature of the substance imposing her emotions. The use of her over voice, the sounds of her natural breathing creates a calm and steady atmosphere almost like meditation portraying a tranquil and peace state of mind. In figure 1 the photograph displays an out of focus subject, which is project continuously within the installation video, which engages the audience as they are slowing being dragged into the videos inhabiting the breathing creating a subtle and calm contemplation. The audience is surrounded by the impact of the installation projecting them into the atmosphere, indulging them allowing pursuing their own interpretation of the surroundings, reflecting their own personal experiences and emotions.  Prouvost’s portrays a personal message within her work, as throughout her childhood she found it difficult to express herself through words therefore this technique strived her.

I personally thought Prouvost’s work inspiring, her use of techniques within filming such as the audios and timing within the subjects created a calm and tranquil atmosphere, engaging myself intrigued by the audio which creates a sensuous beautiful atmosphere.

Figure 2 - Laure Prouvost, 2013 

Prouvosts work reminded me of Christian Boltanski, as he used the techniques of intensive lightings which creating a surreal atmosphere, engaging the audience within his installations. The light highlighted the subject, creating a strong spiritual present of something beautiful and precious reflecting intense emotions. 

 In figure 2 it presents Provost's presentation of rewarding piece “Swallow”, I find it interesting how the boards centre the audience indulging and trapping them subtly into the atmospheric surroundings. This emphasizes the interaction within the audience it will make them feel like there a part of the videos reflecting them into in the subject creating personal emotions and connections. “I am not showing you something, you must imagine it by yourself, I am just hinting”, this portrays Provost's intentionally concepts to portray the natural habitat of Italy which I believe she has successfully achieved.