Mixed Media
Title: Sedations
Medium: Syringes
April 2017
Exhibition Text: For my mixed media piece, I chose to imitate the artist, Anthony Moman. At the beginning of this project, I knew I wanted to pursue the theme of mind and moral dilemmas. I chose this as a way of confronting the issues of our contemporary society, similar to my inspirational artist. The colors represent our morals and how our desire to be sedated can be troubling and necessary.
Critique:
For my mixed media, I had the idea of working with syringes and needles. My parent is a phlebotomist, so I have much access to these materials. I have not decided what I want to create with the syringes, however I have come up with various possible themes. Some themes to pursue would be health issues, injection/repair, emotional/physical pain, manipulation of a situation to get a desired outcome, emotional uplift, deep seated fears of pain and danger, overextension, burdens placed upon oneself, or mind dilemmas. As for my inspirational artist, I chose Anthony Moman, who has several sculptures which most are made out of syringes. Moman often confronts society through his work and exposes weaknesses through irony. He mainly examines the theme of obsession in a provocative manner that makes the audience uncomfortable. I plan on integrating my inspirational artist by mimicking his use of different liquids in the syringes to brighten up the sculptures. I too would like to examine this theme of obsession, may it be materialistic, drugs, or the need to be happy. I have already begun the process of gathering materials. So far I have about ten, 3mL syringes and five, 5 mL syringes, along with a couple of needles. I am still unsure of how big I want to make this sculpture. I planned on keeping it rather small for the sake of not poking an eye out, although a larger piece seems more attractive to me. However, if it has to be brought in I will not go larger than 2 ft. Since I have already begun gathering materials I would say I am good with time. I am very assured that I will be able to complete this project on time. I will currently be working on some planning sketches to get this idea further developed.
Artistic Inspiration
My mixed media sculpture was inspired by the artist, Anthony Moman. In his artwork, Moman confronts society's relationship with consumerism and indulgence and tries to expose the vices and weaknesses of our society using the weapon of irony. He examines the themes of consumerism/materialism, image, status symbols and our constant obsession with emulating film and pop stars. The result is a provocative path, ironic, funny, but also sharp and acute that jolts the observer out of their comfort zone. This work is a bitter but ironic criticism of contemporary society, more and more torn by the moral dilemma between material desires and spiritual needs where what matters is only appearance and where everything can be bought or sold.
Experimentation
Before attempting to start my the mixed media piece, I began by brainstorming a variety of ideas, by searching for materials and sketching. I came up with at least three sketches that I knew I was capable of doing. After creating the sketches for the plans I came up with, I looked on the internet to find research on several artists that had work similar to that of my creation. As I was preforming my search, I was able to narrow my research down to one artist. After I completed my sketches, I began to pick out which materials I was going to use.
Process
1. Gathering ideas
I began my process by first finding some inspiration and ideas. As I was searching through the internet I came across the artists, Anthony Moman. His work caught my attention because of the material he chose to use. I had never seen a sculpture created with syringes, so I decided this would be the most interesting idea to pursue.
2. Finding the meaning
After brainstorming my final sketch, I had to piece together a meaning that would connect with my life, that being moral dilemmas
3. Transferring my ideas
Once I had a solid plan with a meaning attached, I re-sketched what I wanted my final piece to look like. I did this in order for it to be made clear as to what steps I would have to follow, as a draft.
4. Gathering Materials
When I finished with the layout of my piece, I began to gather the resources and materials necessary to make my work. This included many syringes of different sizes, needles, a white background and other medical supplies.
I began my process by first finding some inspiration and ideas. As I was searching through the internet I came across the artists, Anthony Moman. His work caught my attention because of the material he chose to use. I had never seen a sculpture created with syringes, so I decided this would be the most interesting idea to pursue.
2. Finding the meaning
After brainstorming my final sketch, I had to piece together a meaning that would connect with my life, that being moral dilemmas
3. Transferring my ideas
Once I had a solid plan with a meaning attached, I re-sketched what I wanted my final piece to look like. I did this in order for it to be made clear as to what steps I would have to follow, as a draft.
4. Gathering Materials
When I finished with the layout of my piece, I began to gather the resources and materials necessary to make my work. This included many syringes of different sizes, needles, a white background and other medical supplies.
5. Setting Up
Once I gathered all of my supplies, I began to set up my syringes. To some I attached needles, and others tubes. I filled a few with a certain color inside to represent the dilemmas of morality.
Once I gathered all of my supplies, I began to set up my syringes. To some I attached needles, and others tubes. I filled a few with a certain color inside to represent the dilemmas of morality.
6. Layout
Once I had my syringes ready, I began to construct a layout. The following three images show the layout I chose. This was the best possible set up I came up with that would include all my supplies while still looking like it's not cramped
Once I had my syringes ready, I began to construct a layout. The following three images show the layout I chose. This was the best possible set up I came up with that would include all my supplies while still looking like it's not cramped
7. Mixed Media
Once my syringes were placed in the way I desired, I straightened them out so that there base was all equal. I made sure to have a clean white background and clear image
Once my syringes were placed in the way I desired, I straightened them out so that there base was all equal. I made sure to have a clean white background and clear image
Reflection
Overall, I am content with the final results of my mixed media project. One thing that was well throughout the process of this piece was my access to the found objects. The bases of this project was to use found objects and I was able to easily access some found objects that I found interesting, and they late became my mixed media piece. However, since I had chosen to also use Stuart Haygarth as my inspirational artist, I used his technique of lining up the found objects. If I could do this project again, I could have found the time and space to mount the syringes up into a chandelier or installation. If not, I would've continued with my same technique and would have included more supplies and various mediums that would've made my project more grand. My project would have gone bigger and been better.
ACT Questions
1. Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and its effect upon your artwork.
My inspiration was Anthony Moman and in his work he uses uncommon items that one might find provocative, and because of this I decided to use syringes to represent the importance of mind and moral dilemmas
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
My research focused mostly on the way Moman used provocative items to create beautiful pieces that can represent consumerism and obsession and our society. It was explained how Anthony Moman uses a lot of irony in his work and as a result, the audience is always put out of their comfort zone
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered that the ironic criticism of our contemporary society can greatly influence the techniques and the ideas that comes forth and is created.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The theme of my inspiration was mind and moral dilemmas.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
An inference that I made during my research was that having a meaning is truly important for the piece, otherwise it's hard to connect to.
My inspiration was Anthony Moman and in his work he uses uncommon items that one might find provocative, and because of this I decided to use syringes to represent the importance of mind and moral dilemmas
2. What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
My research focused mostly on the way Moman used provocative items to create beautiful pieces that can represent consumerism and obsession and our society. It was explained how Anthony Moman uses a lot of irony in his work and as a result, the audience is always put out of their comfort zone
3. What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
I discovered that the ironic criticism of our contemporary society can greatly influence the techniques and the ideas that comes forth and is created.
4. What was the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The theme of my inspiration was mind and moral dilemmas.
5) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
An inference that I made during my research was that having a meaning is truly important for the piece, otherwise it's hard to connect to.