Embedded Files
Title: Mushrooms: The Art, Design and Future of Fungi
Key Themes: Fungi, Nature, Symbiosis, Sustainability, Culture, History
Styles: Contemporary, Modern, Realism, Surrealism
Artists: Beatrix Potter, David Fenster, Carsten Höller, Graham Little, CY Twombly, Alex Morrison, Simon Popper, Lara Ögel & etc.
Activity 1: Art Critique
Written Analysis: Choose an artwork in the exhibition to observe carefully, using the guidelines for Analyzing an artwork (see Art Critiques Tab for details)
The work is constructed by placing spinning red toadstool mushrooms in a suitcase. The suitcase frames the round mushrooms with its straight edges and bulky exterior. The mushrooms are repeated in the piece, but different sizes are used for variation. They are also grouped into clusters of three by size. The points of emphasis in the work would be the bright red coloration of the mushrooms and the spinning movement of the mushrooms themselves. The mushrooms visually fills the suitcase, and occupies the eyes with its bright colors and swiveling motions. The mushrooms visually echo each other's colors and forms. A neutral color is used for the suitcase, so that it does not distract the viewer from the mushrooms.
Untitled, 2017
Untitled, 2017
Salvatore Arancio
Lepitoa procera or Shabby Parasol Mushroom, 1893
Lepitoa procera or Shabby Parasol Mushroom, 1893
Beatrix Potter
Activity 2: Comparative Analysis
Written Analysis: Find two different works to do a comparative analysis.
The subjects of both pieces are fungi. The style of both pieces is a realistic style. However, there are some differences. Arancio's work is more graphic due to its bold line art and bright colors whereas Potter's work is more realistic and faded due to its earthy tones and subtle line art.
The types of fungi that are portrayed are also different. While Arancio portrays brightly-colored bracket fungi, Potter portrays beige parasol mushrooms. Nonetheless, the intention of the works is seemingly unified: to glorify and appreciate the natural beauty of fungi.
Potter's work was created in the 1893, so that might explain the faded and less stylistic appearance of her work. The parasol mushrooms in Potter’s work are somewhat unremarkable, but that is totally fine as her seemed to be part of a still life study.
Arancio's work was created in contemporary times, so he might have access to more vibrant paints and have a wider knowledge base to draw information from. This might explain why Arancio chose to portray a more exotic species of fungi.
Potter captures the mushrooms in its raw natural state while Arancio portrays a dramatized version of the fungi, showing it from different angles, using bold colors, and portraying the context where it is found.
Activity 3: Visual Annotation
What was the most interesting thing about this show (for example, how it is curated, the space, themes addressed, individual artists)?
The most interesting thing about this show was definitely the theme as it is quite unusual to find an entire art exhibition dedicated to fungi. I liked how the show aimed to show the beauty of fungi through a diversity of different perspectives, mediums, styles and contexts. It made the viewer truly believe that fungi was a significant organism for the world and its future because so many artists from different backgrounds were making works that glorified it.
Did you especially like or dislike some work? Explain why, using subject- specific art language.
I especially liked the piece Digressions by Hamish Pearch because of it's surreal appearance. I found the subject of mushrooms sprouting from stacks of paper unusual, yet visually appealing. The organic forms of the mushrooms were juxtaposed with the functional straight lines of the paper and repeated throughout the piece.
Were there any themes, ideas, or materials that you are exploring in your studio work or that you'd like to try out?
I'd like to try out the theme of decay and mushrooms because it connects with my inquiry of nature and human-made items interacting, especially the idea of having organic matter growing out of mundane items to make them more interesting.
Self Reflection: Relating this work to your own work. What issues, either in terms of content or style, can you relate to your own ongoing development? Is there anything you'd like to try out?
Currently, some issues that I am working on is incorporating my inquiry of nature vs. human-made into my usage of materials. In Digressions, the stacks of paper may be a representation of the human-made even if the material itself is organic. So, maybe I should shift my perception from having to use an inorganic material to represent the synthetic to using materials that may be inorganic or organic, but still synthesized in an industrial or mass-produced manner (e.g. paper). I believe the hidden process through which this material was derived should suffice in terms of material synthesis with the inquiry.
Pencil observation sketches and concepts by me
All Image Credits: https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/blog/virtual-tour-mushrooms
Page updated
Report abuse