The Artist Statement
by Maria Luisa Monge
My exhibition is all about the future. Some
motifs explored by the artworks are technology and its effects on humans and
animals, the replacement of a human being with a machine, and futurism itself.
These concepts are linked to my work because in general, my entire exhibition
represents the future, robotics, mechanical pieces and etc. for example “Rust”
and “Junk” are a simulation of robot faces and of old, pieces of junk. There are
other pieces that represent the effects of technology on animals as well as in
human beings. I chose this theme because I began exploring a book called “I
Robot”, which is about the concept of a man being replaced by a machine. I also
explored the Futurism Art when I
wrote my comparative study due to the fact that one of my artists was
considered part of the Futurism movement. I explored the technique itself as
well as the meaning. I found out that Futurism is not only a movement or an art
technique but it is also a belief. The experiences that contributed to my work
were basically when I started to explore a movement/technique that was new to
me. The school’s technology department helped me to collect pieces of
computers, cellphones or other technological devices that didn’t work, that I
could use as part of my artworks.
Overall, the materials I used the most to
create my artworks were pieces of “junk”, nails, screws, copper wire, wood,
paint, watercolors, pieces of old clocks, computers, and cellphones, and other
types of nuts. I used these materials because they represent my theme itself.
Robots are made up of so many different materials such as some of the ones I
used for my own work. The paint and the watercolors were used to cover up the
base material. In some works the material was ceramic, watercolor paper, or a
canvas. The materials all have meaning to the work because I chose them in
order to represent and demonstrate the theme itself. The concept of using
different pieces that compose different devices (computer, cellphone, clock,
etc.) represent the “mechanical” idea of the theme and the exhibition. I chose
the artworks placed in my exhibition according to the ones I spent the most
time on, I felt more pound of, and the ones that related to the artists I chose
beforehand when I wrote the comparative study because they were my inspiration.
(Umberto Boccioni + Isamu Noguchi)
I arranged my exhibition as if it were a
factory or any type of mechanical working space really. I did this to create a
setting and invite the audience to feel what I felt while creating my artworks.
When I did the ceramic faces or even the long amount of hours I spent nailing
more than 500 nails, I felt like a person who worked in a factory so the idea
was to create my own working space. It is supposed to be messy and crowded due
to the type of working I did. I wanted to portray a mess with this particular
setting. My space wasn’t that big but in my case this contributed to what I
wanted to display which was a crowded, messy working space. There are not only
physical artworks displayed but there is also a video being projected. This is
important because I hade to pick a space where I could project the video and at
the same time have space for a long table to put all the artworks and materials
on. As mentioned before, my “overall vision” was to create a setting that
represents my working space throughout this process. Not always did a had a
confortable working place to do my artworks but I had to learn how to work with
what was available to me at the time. This is the idea of the setting I want
people to see and understand.
Studio Work
Clockstrikestw O by Maria Luisa Monge
nails and acrylics on wood. 95cm X 95cm
C L O C K S T R I K E S T W O: On the past two pieces, “Junk” and “Rust”, the intention was to include mechanical concepts into one organic concept, the human being. In the case of this artwork, the purpose is the other way around. These two wheels are supposed to be two big clock nuts. These are usually made out of metal or steal. I wanted to incorporate an organic element in order to represent mankind. Therefore, I chose yarn. I also used sire to include the mechanical aspect of the artwork. The background is a big piece of wood, also considered part of the organic side that the artwork includes.
I Robot by Maria Luisa Monge
Bristle paper and pen on water color paper.53cm X 38cm
I, R O B O T: This is a drawing made on a watercolor paper with a black thin pen and colorful bristle paper to dye the background. This artwork has neither significance nor purpose just to have fun. Although, it does connect to my theme of the future and that’s why I created different robots. The message I wanted to convey here is what society might look like someday. This was one of the funniest artwork to do because I had to come up with different types of robots so I really explored my imagination with this piece.
8 C T O E N E R G Y by Maria Luisa Monge
Acrylics on canvas. 101 x 75 cms
8 C T O E N E R G Y: This octopus is an acrylic painting. The idea of it being connected to an outlet is to represent that technology affects animals as well. It’s not connected to a wall but the outlet is in the ocean, which represents mankind’s interference with animal’s habitats. The message I’m trying to send is that humans are interfering with animals directly and sometimes this isn’t for their benefit and humans have to take a step back.
8 C T O E N E R G Y by Maria Luisa Monge
Acrylics on canvas. 101 x 75 cms (Close up)
P D. by Maria Luisa Monge
Acrylics on canvas 108 x 60 x 45cm
P . D .: This painting was made on a canvas with acrylics. The diver helmet is made out of paper pulp and acrylics. The message is how technology affects animals and also disturbs their natural state. Mankind has been warned many times about the abuse that animals are receiving. This artwork is used to avoid this from happening. I used a penguin because they’re one of the animals suffering of global warming because they live in cold places, which are not that cold anymore due to things mankind keep using. The penguin is wearing a diver helmet because it’s something that comes from men and this indicates that humans don’t have to be animal’s curse but they could also be their salvation and that’s what we need to focus on.
Junk by Maria Luisa Monge
16.5cm x 18.5cm x 5.6cm
Ceramics and spray paint
J U N K: This piece represents one of the many options of how the distant future will look life. This piece represents the possibility that machines will eventually replace mankind. The purpose is to make people think if that’s the future they want for their kids or grandkids. I used ceramic and silver spray paint for this artwork. The silver represents the metallic material and the simplicity of the sculpture represents the first attempts to create a human face. This is why it’s plain and simple. The message I wanted to convey was the effect of technology in society itself.
Rust by Maria Luisa Monge
16.5cm x 18.5cm x 5.6cm
Ceramics and spray paint
R U S T: This is another piece made out of ceramic but this one is painted with acrylics. “Rust” is the sequence of “Junk”. This means that it’s one of the continuous attempts of creating a more “human-looking” face. It’s called rust because it’s supposed to be old and the way it’s painted is to create that rusty sensation. The significance of this piece, as well as for “Junk” is to make the audience analyze and somehow admire the possible future. The message I want to convey is that the possibility of being replaced by machines isn’t impossible at all.
Exhibition Setting
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