Artist's Talk
Nicolas Deshayes
Nicolas Deshayes’ artist talk provided a fascinating insight into his sculptural practice, which is deeply rooted in the innovative use of industrial materials and processes. His works, often created from materials like neoprene foam, vacuum-formed plastic, cast metals, and vitreous enamel, blur the lines between synthetic and organic forms. I was captivated by how his sculptures evoke the textures and fluidity of the human body while maintaining a distinct industrial aesthetic. His approach reflects a dialogue between the natural and the manufactured, prompting me to think about how artificial materials can still carry a sense of warmth and corporeality.
What resonated most with me was Deshayes' meticulous consideration of how his works are placed in a gallery setting. His ability to transform exhibition spaces into immersive environments is truly remarkable. By carefully integrating his sculptures into the surroundings, he creates a cohesive and engaging experience where the artwork feels like an organic extension of the space. This approach made me reflect on how the placement of art can influence its perception and interaction with viewers. I realized that the environment is not just a backdrop but an active participant in shaping the audience's experience of the work.
Deshayes’ imaginative and deliberate practice has encouraged me to rethink my own approach to presenting my work. I admired his ability to convey delicate, almost intimate qualities through industrial processes and materials, and how he uses these elements to create a sensory dialogue between the viewer and the space. His sculptures reminded me of the importance of considering not just the artwork itself but also its relationship with the environment it inhabits.
Artist's Talk
Mark Wallinger’s lecture was an inspiring reminder of how art can be both deeply thoughtful and accessible. His performance Sleeper, where he dressed as a bear and wandered around the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, was another highlight. At first, it might seem playful or even absurd, but the more I thought about it, the deeper it felt. The bear, out of place in a stark modernist space, made me think about ideas of being watched, feeling out of place, or being part of something you don’t quite belong to. Since it happened in Berlin, a city with such a complicated history, it felt even more layered—like the bear could symbolize a sense of both freedom and isolation, something the city itself has grappled with over time.
His work Writ in Water, based on Clause 39 of the Magna Carta, really stood out to me. The way he created a space where viewers could literally see the words reflected in water felt symbolic of how fragile and shifting the concept of justice can be. It wasn’t just about the text itself but the way the experience of the space made you think about how these ideas still matter today. It’s a simple yet powerful reminder that something as abstract as a historical document can take on a new life through art.
What I took away from Wallinger’s work is how art doesn’t have to be overly complicated to carry meaning. His ideas are often straightforward but leave so much room for interpretation and personal reflection. It’s a reminder that I don’t need to overthink every detail of my own work—sometimes the simplest ideas, presented thoughtfully, can resonate the most.
Mark Wallinger
Artist's Talk
Thomas’s work taught me a lot about the power of embracing ambiguity and breaking traditional rules of storytelling to create something truly unique. Through her concept of “exploding cinema,” I realized how effective it can be to fragment narratives and disrupt conventional formats. Her works don’t offer clear answers or straightforward plots, but that’s exactly what makes them so engaging—they leave space for the viewer to interpret and find their own meaning. This approach has made me think differently about how I can structure my own work, moving away from a need to make everything linear or immediately understandable. In Purple Man in Parent Old House, I learned how the mundane can be transformed into something unsettling and surreal. The way Thomas uses a familiar domestic space and turns it into a site of strangeness shows how powerful it can be to play with contrast—juxtaposing the ordinary with the bizarre. It made me think about how I can use familiar elements in my own work and push them into unexpected directions to create tension or provoke thought. With Animal Condensed>Animal Expanded, her exploration of transformation and blurred boundaries taught me how art can convey complex ideas about identity and the relationship between humans, animals, and technology. The piece’s fragmented visuals and layered sounds showed me how to use abstraction to evoke a visceral, emotional reaction, even when the meaning isn’t immediately clear. I also realized how important it is to experiment with texture and movement to create a sense of fluent and uncertainty, something I could explore in my paintings.
Jennet Thomas
