Caroline Slotte: Second Hand Stories
Research Fellow at Bergen National Academy of the Arts, Dept of Specialised Art
- the ‘found’ object in contemporary material based art
Objects from the private sphere intrigue me. What do remnants of lived lives – photographs, clothes, utilitarian ware – have to say about us humans?
What role do the objects in our surroundings play in the creation of continuity in our lives, in the construction of a continuous life story?
The subject of my study is the use of second hand objects within contemporary material based art. My focus is the ‘found’ object as a material. Of interest to my own artistic work is the memory-bearing aspect of the second hand object. Objects in our private sphere stir feelings in us, they link us with our past and connect us to our history. The interaction between objects and humans, focusing on ‘treasured private objects’ as an element that creates continuity in a persons life, is a core question.
My point of departure is the currently increasing trend of using already existing objects as raw materials. In contemporary craft, as well as in several other areas (such as music, fashion, etc.), more and more artists are today occupied with reworking existing objects, instead of creating new ones.
This theme is directly related to my own creative practice, and I will explore it through artistic work, through self-reflective analysis of the work process and the theme, as well as through theoretical studies. With this project my intention is to highlight the use of second hand objects as observed in contemporary material based art.
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Detail from the Rose Border Multiple Series |
Detail from Behind Pink Skies |
In my analysis I will put special emphasis on questions relating to how used everyday objects and their associated memories interact on an individual level. In my creative work I aim for a development towards clarity concerning my artistic motives and the issues I address. Central for my work is the reshaping of existing ceramic material. During my fellowship period I will continually experiment with this technique, looking for ways to improve and simplify my working methods and tools.
The end result of my fellowship period will consist of three parts: 1) a collection of reworked objects, 2) two solo exhibitions presenting the objects, and 3) a final publication.
Gone Fishing, Boat Scene III