current art adventures
I have become quite intrigued by the installation and performance work of Myeongbeom Kim, particularly his work with trees and glass which seem to touch on the fragility of nature. After browsing through his website I found myself surprised by the wit and otherworldliness present in some of these works, breaking down boundaries between nature and the artificial world in a rather peaceful and tentative way.
Back in my second year at Dartington College of Arts I discovered the installation work of Claire Morgan. At the time I was working on Imitation of Life, exploring the use of birds within contemporary art, and I stumbled across her use of taxidermy. Hanging in mid-air, these installations seem almost magical, a stunningly detailed frozen image.
Looking back, I remember a sense of wonder of her use of strawberries, as they slowly drew mould throughout the exhibition, joining together and creating an almost-solid suspending form. A year later, when I was working on Childhood Field Studies, I had completely forgotten about Claire Morgan’s work, although the subconscious part of my mind had apparently clung onto the inspiration for dear life. A shame really – had I consciously remembered her work I could have referred it in my documentation.
These days I find myself draw to her even earlier installations – Fantastic Mr Fox (2008) being perhaps the most obvious relation to my current project.
When I discovered Taurus Crafts was the temporary home of a luminarium this week I couldn’t help but approach apprehensively. Whilst filled with an ecstatic desire to lose myself in the wonder of a colourful inflatable structure, I was wary of safety following an incident several years ago where a similar structure wasn’t tied down properly and took to the skies causing several deaths and serious injuries. Logically, I knew this tragic event would have prompted a health and safety overhaul and now it would in fact be safer than ever, but I nevertheless armed myself with a pen knife and a compass in case the worst happened. And sure enough I was reassured once inside when I realised there appeared to be zips forming emergency exists every five metres or so, leaving me free to enjoy the experience.
In any case, the atmosphere inside this womblike structure is so comforting that any concerns were transformed into awe, the outside world forgotten and discarded as a dull, desaturated land. I was lucky enough to come at a time so I could enjoy the Luminarium in its mostly empty state, loosing myself in swaying corridors before larger crowds of bustling people joined. Barefoot, they wandered around like children, seemingly lost in a haze of colour, eyes wide and mouth agape with dreamy smiles.
I am so deliciously happy with my ebay winnings this week. I got a collection of beautiful china tap tops that read ‘hot’ and cold’ and a brass tap for my installation. They should arrive soon, and possibly means I should be able to finish it by the end of this weekend, although I am hoping to find another three or four taps before then.
I also won a portable TV which I’ve had my eye on for over a week, which I am going to use in my studio installation to show the videos of my Childhood Field Studies installations.
