Motivation and Emotion

Stairway to Health

It is important for art to have the ability to change the attitude of those who encounter it. It is necessary for the experience of art to tap into the observer's psyche. This technique has recently made headlines in the form of Piano Stairs. This type of installation is not new, as a Google search will reveal. In this case it is a German car company responsible for attempting to influence human behaviour. It is my opinion that the agencies responsible for staging these public installations are riding on the creativity of antecedent artists.

This Pill Makes You Small

Claes Oldenburg's talent may lie in his ability to take what some may consider to be mundane household objects and turn them into intrusive artistic installations. Statements from the Guggenheim’s online collection read like pages from a fiction novel set in Alice's Wonderland. Although the most apparent feature of his most recent works is the larger than life scale, a broader theme is captured by even his smaller productions. The shapes, colours, sizes and even the materials Oldenburg uses to realize his pieces serve to convey his message to the audience. Through their re-presentation, these conventional objects incarnate controversial and sometimes sexual meanings. Bright glossy coatings of plastic and vinyl are mediums of choice. Sleek and sexy, his pop-art-objects are easy to fetishize. Though it is difficult to place any artist in a particular category, Oldenburg can situate himself within performance, installation as well as interactive technological art.

Fries With That?

Sometimes animated through electrically actuated pneumatic behaviour, the artworks reflect a malleable form reminiscent of children's toys or carnival attractions. In an interview below, the artist discusses the dichotomies his work explores. Namely: hard and soft, inorganic and natural and their relation to architectural features. It is interesting to note that Oldenburg's staging alludes to the world of commercial advertisement. The artist uses mass produced casings to showcase particular pieces. He also discusses his inspiration from the world of marketing and advertisement. This style appeals to the business audience who wish to draw attention by commissioning some of these artworks. Works like these connect with the general American public, a significant aspect of the Pop Art movement. Oldenburg's works are often commissioned for specific spaces. This allows the artist to customize the object for both the space and the public.

Gugenheim's online collection of Oldenburg work

Update: Football Hero mod takes Arduino to the Kasabian-approved big leagues