Richard Deacon Max 2010 cast ceramic shellWednesday is one of my two days when someone comes in to give my mother her lunch, and so I have a couple of extra hours to myself. Yesterday we went to see the new sculptures at Roche Court. I am intrigued by the idea of using cardboard in, or as an inspiration for work, and found this exhibition thought-provoking although not immediately personally satisfying.
Cardboard seems to be a seductive material. Rachel Whiteread made an enormous installation at Tate Modern again using cardboard as her casting source - in this case cardboard boxes. As with the Deacon exhibition I was not totally convinced by the result - but found the idea attractive.
In the current Quilts 1700-2010 exhibition at the V&A museum, one of the contemporary pieces, a diptych by Diana Harrison is also inspired by cardboard boxes. In fact, although not one of my favourites at the show, this piece I find a more satisfactory result given the initial inspiration.
Diana Harrison - half of her quilt diptychI do very much like cardboard as a support for painting, such as in the work of Adam Neate. There is something very much like fabric about the effect I find - an added dimension.
a piece by Adam NeateAnd as I am reading about collage artists at present I have been delighted to find this work, and generally so many many other works by with or from cardboard. I could sit back on Frank Gehry's armchair all day seeking them all out!
4 comments:
Wonderful that you can get away for a break and see some shows!
I, too, like the idea behind Whiteread's work, but my general reaction was that it seemed too overpowering and cold to convey the warmth that the original cardboard box must have had. I can imagine it the Turbine Hall which, sadly, was empty when we visited it a year ago. Seeing it close probably would improve my reaction.
Marja-Leena, I'm extremely lucky that we live in an area that allows me to visit a range of venues within my four or six hour 'freedom windows'.
I so agree about the coldness of Whiteread's work - and not a coldness associated with the Arctic which was part of her inspiration. I found it a lazy piece of work when I walked amongst it, and took several photos to help me consider it further. However, apart from finding the emotional starting point an attractive one, my overall reaction is one of disappointment.
I hope that your next visit to London coincides with a spectacular occupation of the Turbine Hall.
I currently have a library book on the work of James Castle(1899-1977)an American, who was deaf and had little education. He worked in a variety of media, especially drawing with soot and saliva,but also stitched, collaged and painted cardboard eg. http://gapersblock.com/ac/james-castle.jpg
I also love the work of black American Bill Traylor who in his late retirement sat outside a barber's shop, watching the world go past while drawing/painting on cardboard boxes with gouache - dramatic images (about racism, slavery etc) and composition, incorporating any pre-existing printing on the box and utilising the shape of the piece.
Alison, thank you for the links they are fascinating.
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