I really like the interplay between the raw, organic, carcass-like forms and the man-made, ornate brass hooks and hinges, which have in this case been made into claws. To me it speaks of beauty in the natural world, and beauty that we have constructed.
There is something quite bizarre in the way that these organ-like shapes have been created from fabric, leather, ribbon, and glue... i really expected them to be cow entrails...
How can you make an inanimate material appear alive, or at least as if it was alive once?
The idea of constructing natural beings evokes the post-modern fear of technology surrounding cloning, stem-cells, etc, which we descibe as "ethical concerns". De Monchaux carefully arranges these living/dead pieces in patterns mimicking the ornate brass decoration of the art-deco period.
These works are really lovely somehow (to me anyway... i know Nat disagrees)... and on another tangent they carry a little of an old doctor who/ early sci-fi monster vibe.
5 comments:
I really like this artist. I love the organic forms and i think it relates well. They almost look like alien growths or something.
I can't say I like this on an emotional level, but I do think it's quite clever and interesting. It seems a little, in the least offensive way possible, repulsive... or abject (to use the word we're supposed to). A little like something fungal or sci-fi as you mentioned. (The top image actually reminded me a lot of the works of H.R. Giger who designed the aliens in Alien, amongst other things.)
Also, as you mentioned, it definitely does evoke ideas of biotechnology gone awry... with all the detail and materials that make them seem so familiar and organic, and yet not they seem like something from a dystopian future. I've always found things the most offputting when it's the familiar slightly altered - it sort of emphasises the sense of something having gone wrong.
You seem impressed with how these 'inanimate' materials appear alive or at least alive before......
Well, leather is skin, the largest organ infact, and indeed this artwork (or bits of it) WAS alive once. It used to be living and sweating and peeling and growing on a cows back before it was put in this exhibition. Does this change your perception of the work? It's just the word 'leather' seems more associated with handbags, wallets and shoes these days, and its actually origin forgotten.
A bit off subject-Do vegetarians and vegans avoid buying leather?
Ha ha, i liked your mention of me, I'm very honored!!! Yeah the last 'batch' dosent tickle my fancy at all, but the first two are amazing, especially up close!
I actually did know that they were made from leather and yes leather was an animal once. However, i was guessing that the form the artist used was clean, processed leather as you would use for clothes, bags, shoes etc, and therefore it has been transformed away from the leather that is a living part of a cow.
Also, de Monchaux doesn't use the leather as leather... it is given a more internal organ appearance, and the works don't reference living cows either... in my opinion....
as for vegan/vegetarianism yeah there are a lot of pretentious save bambi warriors that go on and but leather products but refuse to eat meat... my stance is to avoid buying new animal products in all forms as much as possible, but buying leather from opp shops is ok as you're not supporting the industry or creating demand for leather clothing.
But on the same token, some synthetic materials are more detrimental to the environment due to the materials they are derived from and the processes used
Back to art, i suppose de Monchaux was using leather for its strong, stretchable qualities rather than because it is dead cow. I find the ribbon and velvet works just as disgusting and animal-looking as those that include leather...
everyone has these big detailed comments, and all i have to say is... it does kind of remind me of dr who, so i like it!
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