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It is my intention to create objects that simply do not fit in. My sculptures are awkward, and seem to be conscious of their lack of position in the way they occupy space. Poised, 2003 is an object caught in the process of adjusting to a new environment, almost like a snail peeking out of its protective shell. This piece seems uneasy and hyper-aware of its surroundings; it is all about tension and awareness of being looked at. There is an excitement and sensuality to this piece in its red coloring, bristling fur and yellow stinger splinters. My sculptures appear to be aware of the viewer and they are responding to the scrutiny. They like to be watched, they’ve discovered their power of allure and are using it to their advantage. These objects are tempting in their sensual colors and textures but there is something hidden and dangerous about them at the same time. Rina Banerjee is a contemporary artist whose work tackles issues of gender and cultural identities with references to bodies and disease. She creates complex installations that include manipulated found objects, organic shapes, rich colors and fascinating textures. She populates the gallery with alien creatures and constructions that make us aware of our own bodies and the space we share with these objects. Her interest in the experience of the South Asian diasporic community comes through in her presentation of these dislocated objects that seem uncomfortable and out of place. By placing these foreign objects in the gallery, the artist has activated the space into something different. Banerjee says her works exist in a “transformative space,” where “one is able to receive all that is contaminant, undesirable or foreign. Disturbances are an ordinary occurrence” (Banerjee). Her piece Cholera Belt, 2000 seems like a creature from another world that has invaded the gallery space. This piece is impossible to ignore with its blaring use of color, gushy forms, and drippy textures. The object dares you to come in for a closer look at its complex stitching and unidentifiable fillings. The viewer becomes enraptured by this alien creature, sucked into its gravitational pull. I have also been interested in creating fantastic environments inspired by my sculptures and two-dimensional works. With my installation untitled, 2002 I was suggesting that the space an artist creates around himself is a work of art and worthy of attention. I constructed an enclosed space within the gallery and transformed it into a sensory overload of color, texture and dynamic shapes that surround and overwhelm the viewer. This installation was an attempt to create a stylized version of my studio and living space. The space was filled with materials I collected and objects that I had created over the period of the semester, all thrown together in a jumbled mass. With this work, I wanted to allow the viewer to experience the kind of environment that I create around myself. I was essentially declaring the space in which an artist lives and works as a fantastic space in itself. |
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