Artist Statement and Exhibit details for KARST: June 2021

Aldous George
Jun 10, 2021
3 min read

Statement:

Abstracted from photos/drawings of figurative poses trying to convey a feeling of mental or physical anguish or hope through therapy. The changeability of metal forms through heat or other persuasion, mimicking the neuroplasticity of the brain as it changes as a result of stimuli from both in and out of the body.

The body in this case used as the subject, the hopeful fixing of failure, the canvas and the metaphoric journey of process using toxic materials to portray the psychodynamics of pains that constrict the vessels of health within not only our bodies but our very existence, and also the digital to analogue transformation influenced by my urgent craving to bring creativity back down to a simplistic fundamental level which in turn will remind us of who we are.

Digital, Darkness, Dead, Bend, Burn, Heat, Melt, Strain, Break, Fracture, Shatter, Compression, Split, Deteriorate, Dissolve, Reduce, Fire, Splinter, Replace, Fix, Shrink, Snap, Grind, Pulse, Engulf, Diffuse, Danger, Poison, Over-load, Replacement, Alien, Technology, Augmentation, Trauma, Psychosis, Synapse, Sub-conscious, Pain, Toughen, Energise, Re-strengthen, Hope, Therapy, Alive, Happiness, Analogue.

The difficulty of using molten metal to paint with or apply as a medium is appropriate, as is the toxicity of the fumes, powder, particles etc of molten metals, especially Lead. Appropriate in as much as our bodies can be difficult to fix and can be in a constant state of flux with the on-going battle against deadly disease, illness and viruses.

In the last year, health, chronic pain, mental health issues are bubbling more to the surface, and it is now maybe easier to talk about our struggles (because of everyone’s struggle in the pandemic) and public play is happening more.

A love-hate relationship with technology and breaking out of the inevitable mould that is possibly taking us all on a dark journey.

Experimenting with different approaches to joining/applying/fixing low melting point metals to steel.

I am looking forward to the influence of the space at KARST making me consider alternatives to just hanging at eye level. Some of the pieces are very heavy and maybe this could be conveyed somehow. Also, the heavy and awkwardness of some of the pieces should come across to the viewer. I am particularly interested in how the viewer will interpret my pieces and how this may add to their evolution in the future.

Proposed Exhibit Pieces:

If possible, I would like to see all these pieces in the exhibition. All pieces are ready to hang. Some will need a more sturdy screw/bolt to hang from. There is also the possibility of them being suspended or the arm being presented horizontally.

Arm, 9kg, 700x600mm, Lead & Tin on Aluminium Mesh and Wire on Steel Sheet.

Welded washers and 3mm steel wire (7x7 construction) with bulldog grips on back. This piece will need a sturdy screw/bolt in the wall.

Male Figure, 640x1000mm, 21kg, Lead & Tin on Steel & Aluminium mesh on Steel sheet.

Welded washers and 3mm steel wire (7x7 construction) with bulldog grips on back, can also be hung landscape or portrait. This piece will need a sturdy screw/bolt in the wall.

Female Figure 2, 640x1000mm, 12kg, Lead, Tin, Bismuth on Steel & Aluminium mesh on Steel sheet.

Welded washers and 3mm steel wire (7x7 construction) with bulldog grips on back, can also be hung portrait or landscape. This piece will need a sturdy screw/bolt in the wall.