Recently I have been looking back at the crisis commission exhibition of 2012. Artists such as Yinka Shonabare, Anthony Gormley, Tracy Emin, Gillian Wearing and Jonathan Yeo created works to raise awareness and money for the homeless charity Crisis. Although many of the artists’ work in a very different way to myself, the content and spirit of the work is very much in line with my own.
I have already commented in a previous post on the contribution of Jonathan Yeo and my appreciation of his work, but another contributor to the exhibition also has direct links to my work. Gillian Wearing’s piece Craig is a small 45cm realist bronze sculpture of a former soldier who became homeless after returning from the war in Afghanistan. Wearing herself describes the work as a “sculpture/monument”. Craig turned to drink when trying to adjust to civilian life which in turn led to him becoming homeless. With the help of Veterans aid he was able to turn his life around and in return for the support he received he now works as a volunteer tutor for Crisis.
Wearing tells Craig’s story in a plaque under the statue. Her sculpture and photographic works often include text and they work well for her. As she says herself
“I see all of my work as a portrait of people and the individual stories and experiences they go through.” http://www.theguardian.com
With the use of text, Wearing can tell these stories in a precise and succinct way. There is a danger that being so literal can make the works seem a little one dimensional and not give the viewer room to contemplate and the chance to make their own minds up. Wearing though is a confident artist and her art is visually interesting enough to stop it being overwhelmed and dominated by the text that accompanies or is included in the work.
Although I would not like or feel the need to have such a literal explanation to accompany my work I do feel an affinity with Wearing’s 3d works. She uses a realist style which I feel is important when talking to and about ordinary people. In common with the content of my current output her work often includes the underdog, the ordinary and the unnoticed person.
The realist approach is popular with the general public and with a realist style she makes sure that the people she depicts are not excluded from the appreciation and discussion of the finished work. The realist approach is one I am confident with. I would feel uncomfortable if the people I am trying to portray were to feel alienated by the end product.
“Your World could come crashing down at any time” – Yinka Shonibare interview link below:
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/feb/1…
The Crises Commission Private View
