Surrealism was a 20th century movement in art and literature. Its intention was to release the creativity of the unconscious mind such as creating images using juxtaposition that is absurd. So i feel that the term 'surrealistic Garden of Eden', Djurberg is taking an unconventional approach on a religious tale and testing the boundaries of the viewers. 'Awry' refers to away from the appropriate so 'all that is natural goes awry' I think relates again to the unconventional method of how the art was made. The colours are very bold and characteristic. She has taken something which is supposed to be so beautiful and made it crazy and out there.
The complexity of emotions Djurberg confronts us with is taking something pleasant and adding a rough edge that almost adds troubling emotion. The colours and the texture and the sort of melting look about the clay figures add to this.
Djurbeg plays with the ideas of children's stories and innocence in her works through her child like figures in which she then goes and adds a touch of disturbance. I noticed she adds a lot of sexuality to her work which plays on that 'complexity of emotions'. What starts of sweet seems to end quite irrational.
I think the fascination with turning innocent and sweet into something disturbing comes from the fact that it is more of a shock factor. In reality, we are faced with a lot of things which are disturbing, and although we wish we weren't interested, we are. It leaves more of a lasting mark, and I think designers are now playing on the fact that we are much more pulled in to things like this, compared to sweet and sensitive.
I think that Djurbeg's work is interesting and chosen because she took risks. The contradiction between the subject and the media is very interesting to look at and it makes you want to know her thought behind it. Her work is displayed almost like a playground which then relates to her ideas of children's stories. The work feels young and playful but then also very mature and dark at the same time.
Djurbeg's in a way reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. These outrageous figures that jump out at you and let you explore around. I think the work is very successful in bringing a lot of emotion to the table
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0268/is_7_45/ai_n24354920/
http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/6886/nathalie-djurberg-experiment-at-venice-art-biennale-09.html
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nathalie-djurberg
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/blogon/art_news/nathalie_djurberg_in_conversation_with_ana_finel_honigman/3391
http://hammer.ucla.edu/exhibitions/detail/exhibition_id/73
I really like Djurbergs work and find it challenges our thoughts and beliefs. The garden of eden in christian beliefs was to be where human kind was first created, the first man and women-adam and eve. Djurbergs work consistently sets a dark gloomy atmosphere and there is a sense of death and disturbance-which is quite the opposite of how the garden of eden is described in the bible. The claymation used in her work add to the disturbing effect because of disfigured and scary looking characters she makes. Also the Claymation at first creates a sense of innocence but the audience is soon disgusted by the graphic stop motion filming.
ReplyDeleteI think Djurberg's work was chosen like Anita said be cause it is quite a risky idea to make work from. Opposing christian beliefs to me would seem quite offensive how ever i think it is chosen because of how successful the work turned out. It would be great to see this work and feel the experience Djurberg has created.
I really like Djurbergs work and find it very interesting! I can totally see why her work was shown at the Venice Bienalle. It is very unique. I haven't seen any claymations before. I find it very interesting how she creates a creepy kind of feeling with the children, an almost disturbing scene. I like how you have mentioned that she pushes the boundaries in art. It is very true.. it is quite risky to create work like this because you can never really know how the audience will perceive it and understand it. I like the dark and gloomy atmosphere that is in her work, it creates a sense of death and emphasises the disturbing atmosphere. I like how shes uses slightly strange looking figures.. I think that it draws an audience in because they want to experience the work and learn more about it. If i saw her work from accross the room in venice or anywhere I would definatley walk over to see it.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is her way of showing the opposite translation of the Garden of Eden. Compared to what everyone already thinks of its beauty and peacefulness. In my opinion it make is an interesting art piece and makes the viewer think. The scenes are very out of depth and twisted.
ReplyDeletei found this work prity obscure. It's almost painfull to watch the endless crawling and cuts and confusing concoctions of legs and lips. however she did create a world that had its own atmosphere and strange set of feelings.
ReplyDelete