Another Artist:

Contemporary Artist Kris Kuksi is dealing with similar themes of Utopia in his own work. Both his and Alison Engles work has a surealistic quality although their color pallets and approaches in style differ greatly.

http://kuksi.com/

Interview with Alison Engles:

[Questions or statements from myself marked by a (Q:): answers and/or responses from Alison marked by a (A:)]

Q: Use some keywords to describe what it is that you are focusing on with your current work.

A: (De)construction of paradise, collecting cliché images of paradise from magazines..etc, searching for my own image of paradise, flowers/color/waterfalls repeat in my work, the horizon line is what refers to the landscape, start with cutting things out, materials are important (spray paint, use of left over pieces to make repeating images, use of epoxies, collection of materials (fabric, different papers, plastic, latex, etc, paint.

Q: Tell me about your process, how do you work?

A: Considers it the Abstracting of Paradise, “ When stating I pick in the moment what I am attracted to. Collage is a good medium to allow myself to get away from the idea that is in my head and allow chance and coincidence to show up in the process. The resin turns the landscape into something plastic.

Q: What is it about the idea of paradise that motivates you to deconstruct and reconstruct it?

A: It is a search for self, unsure of titles…but about the searching for Utopia, longing for paradise.

Q: In making natural things (i.e. landscapes) you use unnatural or synthetic colors and textures. Why?

A: People make plastic things (flowers, etc.), them being organic is lost because they want them to last forever. There is a fascination with the idea of the organic becoming unreal. Colors are seductive and the idea of Utopia is seductive.

Q: How has your process changed over this semester?

A: “A lot…I started working on smaller pieces, closer to instant gratification and now the work is becoming larger and more complex; I am pushing the images further.”

Q: Would you consider incorporating installation into your work?

A: “I tried it last year and it was too focused on the results instead of the process. I tried using light and colored filters, these abstract it more. Next I am going to incorporate woods and canvas. With color and light you can create paradise without imagery.”

Q: How much do you consider the viewer when displaying your work?

A: “I am not as considered with that. Still searching, I don’t consider my images to be ready, so I forget that aspect of it. I am more into developing now”

Q: Would you try incorporating other senses, other than sight that is, into your presentation? For Example: putting a patch of soft grass down for the viewer to stand on while looking at your work?

A: “It could happen in the future but for the moment I am still working in the 2^nd dimensions. But I don’t want to push it too far too quickly, before the stage is developed. It’s good to do something new and different but not if it gets you away from the essence of your work.”

Assignment/Objective:

COPY-CAT:

1. Copy a piece of the assigned peer artist's work.

2. Make the next piece of work that she will make at some future point.

3. Incorporate something of hers into your own work.

During this assignment we are supposed to get into the head of the artist we are assigned. We are supposed to use the same process and materials so that we can better predict where they will be with their work in the future and then to take something of the style or process with us into our own work.

Instructor: Lucie Renneboog