new pieces, your advice?

[anne (bxl)]

Here are new pieces I've made.
1- title : le beau et le lait (the beautiful and the milkman/uglyman - double meaning of the word "lait/laid" in french) speaks about the oedipecomplex
2- title : autoportrait (selfportrait) Don't ask my why, please...
3- title : petite histoire d'une grande chose (the little story of a beanpole)

[rderr.com]

Chère Anne,

Only a brusselaire could comme up avec such des jeux de mots.

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroberrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrr(t)

[JAZ]

I love the tentative balance of these, Anne. They are like kinetic pieces at rest, almost ready to walk, or skitter, away. Are there markings on the surface of the first? It's tactile quality makes me wonder if the surface itself of the spherical part says something the photo doesn't show.
The subject matter uses visual metaphor indirectly, enhancing their interest. They are enticing.
Are they bronze?
JAZ

[anne (bxl)]

Thank you Jaz for this very positive comment. Yes they are bronze. The first one is from wax, I work wax directly with my fingers -no tools except a small knife- so it is very tactile. Size is about 30cm. The attachment shows another piece with more visible markings.
The two others pics shows pieces made from sanded plaster. Size is 50/60 cm.
I use a lot of metaphor, even in my sketches (drawings) because it helps me to communicate some abstract idea using only essential images.

[anne (bxl)]

Only a brusselaire could comme up avec such des jeux de mots.
only USman who knows brusseleers could deeply appreciate ;)

[JAZ]

I'm surprised that the second two are plaster because they are so slender. They are elegant.
The two bronze ones are more earthy. Very nice.
One problem I've necountered with small pieces sometimes is the danger of theft while they are being exhibited. Yours seem like good candidates for theft because they are desirable and easy to hide in one's coat. Is this something you've had to deal with?
Are you working towards a particular exhibit for these?
JAZ

[anne (bxl)]

The four of them are bronze! but nr 1 and 4 have been moulded from wax, nr 2 and 3 have been moulded from plaster.
You are right about theft! In a private gallery there is nothing to worry about I presume. But I am working on a major group exhibition in Bordeaux (south west of France) schedule in september where there is a risk of theft. So the organiser thought to present my pieces in an old big grided industrial lift (as the exhibition will take place in an old factory) with a special lighting and access on request. Every exhibition have to find an adequate response but I guess this time the proposed presentation match quite well the subject matter.
Anyone else a suggestion?

[fritchie]

Anne - These are beautiful pieces! I like both the hand-worked surfaces and the sanded ones. Both fit the subject. Sizes of 50 - 60 cm are not really small, but 30 is.

All my pieces have much larger bases, mainly for balance, and in each case I have added small interior tabs which can be drilled for permanent anchors. Some pieces are as small as these or even smaller.

In my New Orleans galleries and similar situations, they are safe, but I have heard over many years that in New York and other large cities, people do like to walk in while management is distracted and take things. Not to mention the tactics used a day or two ago to steal that Munch piece!

The industrial cage-lift sounds good, if they can light it well. The pieces do need a certain freedom of surrounding space, but some of those lifts are fairly large. Congratulations!

[jwebb]

Anne,

These are very beautiful.
Pc #1 has also a connotation of a grenade or what we call a "cherry bomb". The surface appears ancient and marked by natural forces or ? Your patinas are just right and very french.
Pc #2 this is terribly sad as a self-portrait. This should be scuttling across the sea floor, and I often feel that way myself.
Pc #3 is, as JAZ said, "elegant". The feet are precisely right. It's about to speak or spout off.
Pc #4 is, I can't help it, a profile, in an abstract treatment. This could be some "Mario" character from a computer game, or a corporate logo.
These are my off the top reactions. It is hard to speak of abstract sculpture in words, as they are really in the vocabulary of form rather than these kind of literal statements. I would steal them from a gallery if I could get away with it.

[sculptorsam]

Very nice, anne. Do you have another view of the fourth work by chance? The middle two have the feel of a very particular type of movement. Not still, not currently moving, but not a captured moment either. Something else entirely, which I think makes them very good sculpture.

[anne (bxl)]

"I would steal them from a gallery if I could get away with it." what a nice compliment Jwebb!!
Sculptorsam, I attached another view of the fourth one. I made a serie of 5 heads similar to this one during the last winter while I was home with that shit hepatite (almost 4 months...). They are pittas bread shaped, just an easy exercice of forms for a broken mind and body.
Yes Fritchie, I have drilled a hole for permanent anchor in most non balanced bases. This is the case with nr3 for example. It seems that the cage-lift is a huge one, but I will go to Bordeaux the day before the opening to check out the presentation anyway.
Well guys, I am leaving just now for a few days in Britain. Back on monday to continue this dialogue with you!

[obseq]

Anne,

I'm more or less with Sam on this--I particularly admire a set like this when there isn't an issue of forced continuity or trying to hard to present a true "series."

At times, a series detracts from the quality of each individual piece, and clearly, this isn't an issue as you've done some great work here.


Beautiful job, Anne.


Have a safe trip!

[Saint B]

Anne,
I agree these pieces are quite nice. To me they are very sensual and strong and as others have commented their suggested movement is very provoking and offers a sort of narrative. I especially like the self portrait, soft yet able to sting! Keep it up,
Saint B

[Julianna]

I've been holding off on a response, but after multiple viewings, I must say I like "autoportrait (selfportrait)" most. I love how it moves. Do you have other photos of it?

[anne (bxl)]

Unfortunately, Julianna, it is the only pic I have for the moment. Those Pieces are on the way to Bordeaux to be exhibited overthere from next thursday, so, no possibilities to have additional pics until early october (or later on in case of sale . :cool: )

[shlomo]

I really love your gentle work. It made me visit your website - and I loved what I saw.
But it seems to me that something happened, something changes in your work. – the early work is vertical , and in the later work there are two feminine pieces - the "autoportrait" (maybe that is the reason for the name) and the new attachment - very open, large, round, and horizontal.
And if I can say I loved them even more.

[Julianna]

Unfortunately, Julianna, it is the only pic I have for the moment. Those Pieces are on the way to Bordeaux to be exhibited overthere from next thursday, so, no possibilities to have additional pics until early october (or later on in case of sale . :cool: )

Well, then let's hope I won't be able to see more pictures until later! :D

[anne (bxl)]

But it seems to me that something happened, something changes in your work.

Well, Sholmo, something may have been happened, it is probably what some people call "the artistic maturity".....