Tuesday, 24 July 2012

WEEK 1- Nathalie Djurberg's 'Claymations'.


WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2012


WEEK 1- Nathalie Djurberg's 'Claymations'.

Nathalie Djurberg's 'Claymations'. 


Swedish artist Nathalie Djurberg's intricately constructed claymation films are both terrifyingly disturbing and artlessly sweet.

The new works created for the Venice Biennale explore a surrealistic Garden of Eden in which all that is natural goes awry.

She exposes the innate fear of what is not understood and confronts viewers with the complexity of emotions.

Nathalie Djurberg was awarded the silver lion for a promising young artist at the Venice
Art Biennale 09.
(http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/6886/nathalie-djurberg)
'Experiment' (2009) Venice Biennale
  

Research Djurberg's work in order to answer the following questions;

1. What do you understand by the word 'claymation'?

The word claymation is a combination of "clay" and "animation". Djurberg is known for her eccentric slow motion claymation short films, that can be erotic, violent and slightly disturbing.

2. What is meant by the term 'surrealistic Garden of Eden'? and 'all that is natural goes awry'?

Surrealism means that it is something unexpected and out of the ordinary. Most people have a conception that the Garden of Eden was this perfect and idealistic place. However Djurberg's work does not present to us the expected. Her animals don't look perfect they look quite cumbersome and quirky. Her Garden of Eden does not fit the stereo typical concept, and that is what makes it 
surrealistic.

Her clay sculptures depicting nature are awry. The definition for awry as said on Dictionary.com  : "away for the expected", "crooked" or "askew". Djurberg's sculpture are definetly askew it's twisted and not quite right.

 3. What are the 'complexity of emotions' that Djurberg confronts us with?

Djurberg's works confronts us with discomfort and a sense of unsettlement. It evokes a conflict of emotions viewers are put into a trance as we get mesmerised by her work as if being intergrated into the strange world that is around us. 

Her works make me feel as though I'm in another world but at the same time it feels familiar because it is nature except its almost grotesque looking. I find her work fascinating and although it maybe an uncomfortable environment to be in I'm drawn to it. It feel dangerous and unsafe but its so intriguing hard to resist. 

4. How does Djurberg play with the ideas of children's stories, and innocence in some of her work?

Most of Djurberg's stories have a lot in common with children's stories. Her stories include the usual good guy and bad guy. She also uses the usual animal characters like the wolf and the bear.  By using clay it evokes the feeling of naivety and playfulness, it makes the story seen innocent and harmless. The music by Hans Berg is cheerful and lighthearted which adds to the feeling of innocence. 


However in her stories things take a turn "and gruesome elements" occur it becomes shocking it no longer is a children's story, its scary, no longer innocent.


5. There is a current fascination by some designers with turning the innocent and sweet into something disturbing. Why do you think this has come about?

In my opinion I think its because as artists, designers, human beings we are always wanting to express ourselves and how we are feeling. Things in our world are more often than not how they seem. On the surface it might seem innocent and harmless however the reality is ugly and disturbing. Our world is not perfect and that why I think designers want to depict that in their works because it is real in honest, something that everyone can relate to.

6. In your opinion, why do you think Djurberg's work is so interesting that it was chosen for the Venice Biennale?


I think her work is fascinating because its so different from everything else she provides a fresh perspective that is intoxicating and really captivates you. It really immerses you into a whole other world. I love how it brings out a conflict of emotions and makes you feel so many emotions at the same time. It makes me feel uncomfortable however at the same time I want to see more and go deeper into the awry world she has created. 


7. Add some of your own personal comments on her work.

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