Weekly Interview #10 - Jen Ray

Tell us about yourself and your work.

I create large-scale paper works featuring Amazonian women in dystopian landscapes. That's the short version. I also create performances based on the drawings and occasionally make sculptural works and video which is shown in conjunction with the performances. 

The works are focused on women who exhibit "bad behavior". They are rebels and revolutionaries making their own world on top of the ruins of other worlds. There is always a building up and a pulling down. And always wreckage of some sort, representing a smashing of the old order.

James Prochnik - Object Poems

I feel there's something special about assemblages. Collections of found our ready-made objects put together in a kind of art that lies between sculpture and installation, doused with a lot of coneptualism. The meeting of originally unconnected items can bring out memories and feelings that you thought weren't there anymore.

And that is the case with the works of James Prochnik (and several other artists co-working with him in some cases) - the man wanders around antique stores looking for things that evoke something in him, striving to create "sculptural haikus - concise and precise artworks that reflect on time, aging, dreams, and mysteries of the spirit (...)". Exceptional art, something that, through initially weird, reaches deep within us. Something perceived as ugly, yet somehow beautiful.

Nicolas Bohac - Paintings

Have you imagined the Earth without humanity? Well, you probably have, just like everyone else. But why do we have to imagine it? It's the civilization that is unique and somehow intrusive to the system, not other way around, as we tend to perceive it. Californian artist Nicolas Bohac intends to counter this misconception by examining how humans live by - and with - natural environment. How we change it and how we adapt to it. After all, it's a pretty odd relationship, isn't it?

Kiwilicious Jewelry #11 - Danielle Gori-Montanelli

 Woolen fleece seems to be quite popular in jewelry made by amateurs and laymen. Danielle Gori-Montanelli chose it too, creating innovative, dimensional sculptures with slightly pop-art-ish feeling. Colourful or in greyscale - either way, this kind of jewelry is heavy and garish cannot be only added to an outfit - it creates it and therefore tolerates only minimalistic clothing.

Kevin Bierbaum - Paintings

Just yesterday we wrote about a classic abstract expressionist. This day we keep the style, but focus on a young German-American artist, Kevin Bierbaum. His minimalistic mixed media paintings are clearly inspired by the famous Rothko's composition and so popular dripping technique. Yet he doesn't copy the "old masters" of twentieth century - Bierbaum's works are original and fascinating. Flashy, but somehow calming. Interesting, minimal compositions and bright, diluted neon colours render his art truly remarkable.

Classic Artist of the Week #11 - Helen Frankenthaler

If abstract expressionists were drinks, Motherwell would be scotch, Pollock moonshine, Rothko lager and Frankenthaler a tequila sunrise cocktail. Smooth, light, refreshing, tasty and girly, but men like them too (they're just too afraid of being spotted).

Timothy John-Luke Smith - Paintings

Timothy John-Luke Smith started his adventure with art at the age of fifteen. Inspired by both French neo-classicists and ancient art he creates these works - portraits of women in... quite strange environments.  Artist's page.