#contextual research2

[anastasijagrebniova]

Ana Mandieta Made in nature

A Cuban/American artist.

Mandieta created female silhouettes using natural environment as a canvas for her works. She carved, shaped, engraved and impressed her own body in various outdoor locations which she recorded in photography or film.

“Through my earth/body sculptures, I become one with the earth ... I become an extension of nature and nature becomes an extension of my body."

Using natural materials like dirt, water, fire, flowers, rocks, Mandieta provided an unforgettable experience of merging with natural world. Through her work I feel a strong spiritual connection between her body and nature.

"My art is grounded in the belief of one universal energy which runs through everything: from insect to man, from man to spectre, from spectre to plant from plant to galaxy."

[anastasijagrebniova]

Cal Redback

French artist, based in Paris.

I really like Redback’s way of showing the human belonging to the surrounding world.Through his series he retouched facial features and organic elements creating a new sureal creature.

Redback managed to create organic and smooth transition from face to wild growth of greenery due to his stunning attention to detail which saved the portraits’s realism.

His produced portraits evoke mixed feelings, from disturbance to astonishment and I really like it. 

[anastasijagrebniova]

Antonio Mora

Playing with opacity and composition Antonio Mora, the spanish artist, combines flora and fauna with different portraits to express connection with nature.

 Through his extraordinary combinations, Mora has used various elements as replacement for different body parts which became organical extensions. 

The navy and faded colours vividly visualise the depth and contrast ih the image and also give a sense of mystery. 

His realistic manner of working reminds me of the work of Francesca Woodman by uniting human forms and the surrounding environment.

[anastasijagrebniova]

Nagato Iwasaki

Japanese artist.

Using driftwood Iwasaki produced a series of natural lifesized sculptures. He managed to match carefully chosen wooden pieces together creating a human form. Every sculpture has its own gesture and posture that makes them all seem like individuals translating unique personalities.

“I create using absolutely no glue or other adhesives. Instead of iron nails I use wooden stakes, so these pieces don't use any materials other than wood in their creation. I also don't bend, shave, or otherwise process the wood in any way. Every piece is built to stand on its own without support.“

The location of human shaped sculptures and selected materials give a feeling of mystery creatures who seem as though they may be growing or returning to nature.