In my earlier work I made use of collage
elements to replace body parts of the within the piece, which defined
the theme of the work, and, together with the ground, set the mood of
the piece. This can be seen really clearly in Transfat, 2012, in which
the figures mishapen head is covered with various pipes, and its anus is
the spout from a meatgrinder, disgorging raw mincemeat. The immediate
effect is one of shock and discomfort at the dislocation of the figure,
being both human and inhuman.
In my last piece I shifted the use of collage from being an element of the figure itself, to being a motif external to the figurative process; and instead purely descriptive of the painting's theme. The work dealt with the sex-industry, and especially the way that illegal drugs are used as tools of exploitation against women in that world. To that end I collaged the packaging from morphine medications, along with prostitutes calling cards on the edge of the painting, as a way of referencing the subject matter of the painting.
In retrospect I feel that using collage as an element within the figuration is still an important part of my practice, and essential for creating a dystopian atmosphere, populated by alienated figures overwhelmed by economic and social forces created by the globalised capitalist society. At the same time, making use of a subtle balance of collage elements as motif within the background enables the piece to become more narrative, without becoming dogmatic and prescriptive.
In my last piece I shifted the use of collage from being an element of the figure itself, to being a motif external to the figurative process; and instead purely descriptive of the painting's theme. The work dealt with the sex-industry, and especially the way that illegal drugs are used as tools of exploitation against women in that world. To that end I collaged the packaging from morphine medications, along with prostitutes calling cards on the edge of the painting, as a way of referencing the subject matter of the painting.
In retrospect I feel that using collage as an element within the figuration is still an important part of my practice, and essential for creating a dystopian atmosphere, populated by alienated figures overwhelmed by economic and social forces created by the globalised capitalist society. At the same time, making use of a subtle balance of collage elements as motif within the background enables the piece to become more narrative, without becoming dogmatic and prescriptive.
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