The China Syndrome

These pieces by Chilean/British Artist Livia Marin were shown at The House of Propellers in London earlier this fall, under the name "Broken Things" 

From the Gallery Site:
“Broken Things” highlights the meticulous work of Livia Marin, a process–oriented approach, which appropriates mass-produced and mass-consumed objects, turning them into precious and uniquely, handcrafted art objects. For this exhibition, Marin finely sculpts everyday objects – cups, bowls jars and plates – modeled with ruptures, splits and crevices. The fractures represent fatality and loss, but in repairing and keeping the object she stresses the relationship of care and continuation. Surreality and repetition are important procedures in the artist's work, creating a mechanization of the intimate relationship we have with objects of everyday use. 

What also fills these pieces with a unique essence is a printed ‘Willow Pattern’. This Willow Pattern, copied from fine hand-painted Chinese pottery was manufactured in the UK using transfer prints signaling a transformation to industrial mass–production. Marin plays with the dignity and uniqueness of the original –but also with its dissemination into universal consciousness via industrialization. In the artists own words “I see my work as situated within a more formal Minimalist agenda. Equally, however, I would want to extend that agenda to include the more ‘impure’ aspects of things that have been handled and used bearing a trace of a social history.”

 I don't think that quite does the work justice. Maybe it is just me, but I was having a discussion with a friend this weekend about work that is smarter than the person making it. I don't know this person so I am painting with a broad brush, but that statement does nothing for me.

It is a loaded discussion that I don't want to go into right now. Maybe I need to do another post on the weakness of Artist's statements. But you all know that you have encountered it. It is so infuriating, but that is life.



House of Propellers