Monday, May 18, 2009

Laughing forever, but smiling no more.


My images of the final print and contact sheet of sketches aren't uploading now so this preliminary sketch is all I have to offer at the moment...

Artist statement;

My piece for the impact project is simply disturbing. First of all I’ve done it in my own blood which was actually so funny. This works on various levels; it is not at first obvious, there is a threat to the viewer of biological contamination, and it is reminiscent of an artist’s pain and psychosis. In these ways it seemed to force impact by virtue of medium alone. I was pleased to think that this was, in some sense, a libation. A sacrifice such as this seems perfectly appropriate to me, as an artist governed by Saturn I often feel that art must hurt.

The subject matter is disturbing in itself, I noticed at some point that I couldn’t spell slaughter without laughter. I still find this vastly amusing and tried to compose the letters in such a way as to lead the viewer to this coincidence. A large drop of blood at the center of the composition is a visual spectacle that draws attention to the piece itself and reveals the texture of dried blood.


It seemed like this was met with a frosty reception in class. It's strange to see people responding with repulsion to something I find so attractive. This was one premise I was working on, but I feel like the work as a whole was misunderstood.


I tried to get into the printmaking room to recover the final print (which was directed to a drawer for some reason) a few times, but it was always locked. Now I've left.

This really pissed me off.

To think... it might even be thrown away.

1 comment:

  1. I think the concept of using your own blood as a medium certainly makes your piece considered a spectacle. I'm impressed you were willing to inflict pain upon yourself and use your own blood for art. I think the medium alone is enough to cause a significant reaction from the viewer, but the fact you were able to incorporate the laughter/slaughter idea makes it even more interesting. Your piece shocks me so much I can't even think of any suggestions to improve it, so that must mean it was very successful.

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