"Making Sparks” Bruce Anderson
First impression:
This is not a traditional piece of artwork! It looks like a hodge podge of old materials put together. It must have a special meaning....
Description/Analysis:
It looks like a robot to me. It is made of a cardboard box, paint and varnish remover metal can, what looks like pretzel arms (may be brown tubes), toothpick neck, and a head of yellow - looks like an old Mac's sign. When I view the opposite side, I see it is a pack of matches and the "arms" are holding hammers. It is angular and boxy looking and three dimensional. It looks stiff and permanent. This robot will not be moving very fast! The colors are warm (red, yellow) and neutral (brown, beige, clack and white). It is asymmetrical as the "head" is off to the side. The words also ensure that it is not perfectly balanced, although there is a bit of symmetry to it due to the shape of the boxes and the fact that there are two "arms" and it resembles a person. When I look at it, the red on the top box is emphasized as well as the arms and hammers. My eye is drawn to the "head" next. Only later, does my eye travel to the bottom of the sculpture. It is simple, but effective as a sculpture. There is nothing fancy about it, this is a sturdy piece. It has a strong unity. Nothing looks out of place.
Interpretation -
The title is "Making sparks" and this leads me to believe that his choice of paint and varnish remover is related as that can would be flammable. The hammer pounding on the matches could start a fire. In nature you can start a fire with metal striking something flammable. Is it a metaphor for something? The cardboard box would be easily lit too. Could it be a statement about art in general and how we can make ideas out of the simplest objects? All it takes is a simple idea to ignite the passion of art in many people.
Background information: (please read the description and even watch a video of the artist speaking about the artwork)
http://www.artsask.ca/en/collections/themes/craftredefined/bruceanderson/making_sparks
Informed information:
After reading the background information, the piece makes more sense. It is representing a person, but it is made of ceramics, not found objects! He did a fantastic job making the ceramics look like actual cardboard, metal and wood. It is very deceiving. This is a metaphor for the idea that humans set ourselves up for injury and often death. It was inspired by his own children playing with old materials and creating new objects. My own children love to do that. A snow blower box became a fort that they decorated and played in for a long time! Sometimes the simplest objects can bring the most enjoyment. Recycling can be fun as well as a necessary part of life. Even though this artwork was created in 1990, it is still a relevant piece for today. Humans will never stop creating and reflecting on life. It is what we do.
