Some of my favourite artists

Elena Kalis

This one is my favourite :)

Eugenio Recuenco

Andrej Glusgold 

Found Objects

How do we define Found art? or Found objects?
Found Art is made from objects that are not considered art as they serve for other purposes eg. Wooden spoon. They then recreate these 'found objects' into something altogether different and amazing. An excellent example of an artist who works with found art is Donna Marcus. She creates art out of aluminum kitchenware, which I looked at in my last post.
One of the first people to create 'found art' was Marcel Duchamp. Some of his works were:

Fountain (1917)

Bicycle Wheel (1913)

Duchamp created 21 different found objects which he called readymates. It seems he used these simple objects to break the traditions of art at the time. He was trying to create a new kind of art which is nowadays practiced in modern art very commonly.

Some other more recent found object artists are:

Barbara Irwin

Queen of Pain

Autonomy of a woman 

Another form of found art is John Dahlsen's environmental art. Dahlsen uses recycled objects that he finds, usually washed up on the beach. Some of his works include:

                3 pages from a sketchbook 

Milde

Veiled thongs

7 buoy totems

Each of these artists create found art so differently. Duchamps art was the breaking of traditions of what was defined as art and the start of a unique and popular art trend, found art. His simple 'readymates' were the beginning of a new way of thinking and the beginning of a new kind of art. Barbara  Irwin loves to find old objects or what people consider 'junk' and turn it into something altogether beautiful, interesting or thought provoking. She firmly believes in recycling old objects instead of throwing them away. John Dahlsens art is completly recycled. He uses sea rubbish to create environmental art. His message is clear in his artwork, our litter is damaging to the environment. Especially our oceans waters which are filled with our junk.

Donna Marcus

Last Friday, our art class had the pleasure of having Donna Marcus come and visit our school to talk to us about her journey as an artist. I loved her artwork as she is very much into old fashioned kitchenware which she salvages from numerous op shops.  Most of her art pieces are made out of aluminum kitchenware.  One of my favourite pieces is her porcelain piece, Ascorbic.

Another one of my favourites is her exhibition Parlour. These pieces are all named after different rooms and each of the pieces are made out of coloured lids of old fashioned steamers. The patterns she makes out of these colourful lids are beautiful.

 

From top left lounge, parlour, spareroom and observatory.

Donna Marcus is a collector and loves to collect old aluminium kitchenware that is considered junk and make something beautiful out of it. Her artwork is so different yet wonderful as she recreates old metal throwaways with no purpose and transforms them into something that is new and meaningful to all.

Jenny Saville

Closed Contact #8 


This photograph makes it look like parts of her has been sliced off. It has a very strong meaning behind it, you can tell just by looking at her face. It gives off distorted, painful emotions. The feeling behind this picture is a sense of loss. The deep anguish across her face and the way she has squashed herself against the glass, give the picture a sense of brokenness and sorrow. 

Reverse 

This painting looks like a woman who has been physically abused, her face is distorted and bleeding. It seems as if she is lying on the floor after being assaulted, there is obviously a lot of emotion behind this piece. The texture of this piece is quite loose in places, it is obvious where large dabs of paint have not been blended in. This is quite effective in presenting the figure more abstract and coarse. The colours in this piece are harmonious and warm toned. Red is an intense colour and this painting comes across to me as a very intense, painful and lifeless. 

Shift 

This painting is very true to its name as the bodies in the piece seem to shift sizes. Although Saville tends to focus her pieces more on larger women, this is one of her artworks that include women of all sizes. The women look grotesque, especially because they are naked, all squashed in one place. The first few bodies start large and end on an overly thin women whose thin shape looks unnatural. The use of red in the top part make the painting seem more even and give it a focal point. I find this piece is trying to show how our perception of how women should be is distorted, by the looks of the overly thin bodies towards the end. Even the more wholesome bodies are not perfect. That is the meaning of this painting, our bodies are not always so beautiful and perfect. 

Propped 

This picture is another distorted view of this woman's body. The way she grips her thighs and tilts her head back give the painting intense emotions. There is nothing beautiful about this lady, she seems very disturbed. Her whole body is tensed as though by some force she is burdened and strained. Her exaggerated form gives it more meaning. The word 'propped' usually refers to an object being supported by something. The woman focused in this painting seems to be supported by reality. Most pictures and art give us the beautiful side of bodies, Saville shows us the not so nice side. Even though this side of the human body is more disgusting, it is realistic. 

Louise Feneley

Louise Feneley 

Cycle of Tides

I love this artwork because of its smooth & silky texture. When I look at it I can almost feel the fabric. The folds in the material are complicated but gentle. It reminds me of a soft blanket, all cozy and warm. The emotion of this piece is very restful. It looks like something you would want to crawl into on a cool, stormy night. I love Feneley's artwork!

Endless Beginning 

This painting is my favourite because of the meaning behind such a simple thing, fabric. How Feneley is able to twist and shape the cloth to give it a purpose. The shape of this fabric is similar to a rose. Its meaning has to do with the contrast in colours. The darker shades and the bright, light reflections give a direct meaning as well. The circular form of the sheet twisting along with the title 'endless beginning' give the meaning to this piece that it is like the circles of life. The contrast of colours are like the good and bad sides to life. The rose incorporates a two sided meaning as well, though beautiful it can also bring harm (by its thorns). That is the deeper meaning behind this artwork, that although beautiful there are also the dark sides to life. 

Deep, My Heart is always moving

The colours of blue is this art work could be interpreted as a more depressing tone but I find the blue tones represent a deep peace and serenity. As always the material has strong movement. This piece is different to her other artworks as it does not have dreamy, restful emotions or look remotely like something you could snuggle into. This piece reminds me of water or the sea. The emotion of this piece is similar to the title, a deeper sense of peace. A sense of peace in your heart and your soul. I find this piece very calming and refreshing. 

The Dreamer

This is one of her only pieces (I think) that incorporate a human body in the painting. It is a lovely art piece that is very serene and meditative. The connection between the still, calm woman lying naked in her own skin. She may not be particularly beautiful or dazzling but she is happy and in a natural state of peace. This is a different sense of beauty hat is not often seen in society, the beauty of being content with yourself. The women's calm emotions are the same to those of the silk fabric next to her. The light pink's are pleasant, pretty colours that has a similar mood to the painting on the right. It is no wonder this artwork is named the dreamer! No other description could fit it better.

Whispered

Once again Feneley's personal aesthetic is strong in this piece, through light, warm tones and smooth textures and movement. The focal point is strong in the darker areas of material but my eye is drawn to the twist in the fabric. Although the colours and shades are soft, the contrasting areas give it a deep emotion connected to life. The strong twist in the fabric reminds me of a heart beating inside a chest. The heart is connected to the whole body and is a source of energy and life. The mood is light and lively. This art piece represents life and a sense of well being. I love the peacefulness that is portrayed in all of Feneley's work. 

Louise Feneley's art aesthetic is shown in all her art works. The soft, placid folds of her fabric pieces give a serene and mediative feel to all of her paintings. The visual language of her art work is always very focused on light and how it falls on the silken cloth, shade and tone to make the 2D painting look and feel 3D. Without proper thinking, her paintings can be derived as simply a replicate of material folds,  when really her art work has a much more intricate meaning to it.