I’m finally getting round to collating a bunch of names and references and researches I’ve had sitting around in intimidating list format. Cross fingers this goes someway to curing my cerebral lime scale. Beginning with: Mika Rottenberg The New York based, Argentinian artist Mika Rottenberg creates videos which operate with a dream-like logic. Treading a fine line between the grotesque and the satisfying, the works tend to revolve around Rube Goldberg-esque machinery powered by women. Those women she employs generally possess specific and peculiar traits- they may be exceptionally tall, perhaps heavy or have unusually long hair. The artist’s interest lies with women’s bodies, and the way in which unusual characteristics can be turned into commodities. Her work Mary’s Cherries, for instance, was influenced by an acquaintance of the artist with a very rare blood type, who quit her job in order to sell her blood. Chris Dobrowski Granted, the tone of Dobrowski’s work is very different, and he often errs towards humour and self-deprecation (hence my enthusiasm- I expect!) The artist also works along the lines of invention. Dobrowski manufactures sculptures with titles which note the frustration and thanklessness of making. He toys with ideas of scale and miniature models and has also worked to construct his own getaway vehicles (for the artist on the run!) Unlike Rottenberg, these contraptions are designed to be functioning, but some of his machines have let him down (sometimes literally and at great speed). Employing these mishaps, he has created lectures on failure which function as an extension of his artwork. Liberty Hodes I also had the joy of experiencing the theatrical, agoraphobic melodrama of Return to Sueburbia last week. Although the slapstick and squealing was, at times, too much for me I still found a lot to appreciate within the work. The play was structured by a voiceover- the artist’s pseudonym, Sue Burbia discussing her experiences living alone. These short vignettes were then illustrated with an overwhelming energy and gusto by the blonde wigged cast who danced it all out provocatively. I loved the way it did not take itself seriously, and its totally unapologetic childishness and the general DIY aesthetic. ( In fact, I did wonder if the opening Chaz and Dave dance was a reference to that Spaced episode which makes mockery of contemporary art and its indulgent strangeness.) It was, as myself and the audience demonstrated- laugh out loud funny in many places.
Henri Chopin Whilst doing grinding along with our current UP projects (we are currently working with the marvellous Helen Shaddock to launch our collaborative publication ‘A lot can Happen in 15 minutes’) we have been thinking more about aesthetics Just diggin’ this guy's layouts I have also been looking at a couple of artists whose work relies upon the relationships between text/objects/ images. Victor Burgin An artist whose work represents a rereading of images, Burgin employs photographs alongside icons, texts and other images to uncover new significances. Art & Language I feel I could say a lot about this work by Terry Atkinson and Michael Baldwin but an empty space is worth 1000 words Carl Plackman I really enjoy Carl Plackman's 1975 statement "Some people appear to move and act as if they were completely at ease in the world. I have always felt ill at ease; my body fitting as awkwardly as my clothes, the spaces in which I move just that little too empty or too full, the air too hot or too cold. Some people seem to have confidence, others are always uncertain, constantly attempting to find their own space in the world - questioning their very identity. Things are never what they appear to be." As well as being aesthetically enjoyable, the scope in such works for a writerly reader is something I find fascinating. alternatively we could just blow things up Fischli Weiss style |