(156) Simon Bowland – SAK Bird – Beaks are birds knives and forks (Australia)
(1180) Anke Teuscher – Beasts of Prey or Eating it all up! (Germany)
About this Artwork
Price: $330 AUD
Aesthetically this work draws on my love of street art and its ability to directly engage with the public, providing an artistic outlet for unfiltered critical statements. Having sourced the initial inspiration of “beaks are birds’ knives and forks” from a 1950’s encyclopedia edited by Enid Blyton, I tried to imagine how an artist might have been inspired to project this outlook into the future from that point in time. Using this as a starting point, I was inspired to reference that era’s enthusiastic certainty in relation to knowledge and research. A feeling that flowed through to popular culture of the time, that man was capable of discovering all knowledge of science and nature. I explored reasoning such as, if beaks can operate as utensils then could they evolve into a multi-purpose tool or utensil at some point in time. Looking back from today’s perspective, that certainty feels like an antiquated absurdity.
About Simon
I am an independent visual artist/designer whose practice is situated at the intersection of sculpture, illustration and digital technology. I make my art to engage, inspire and am always looking for new and interesting ways to explore timeless, universal truths
Initially I graduated from a Bachelor of Arts (Industrial Design) at Newcastle University, NSW. Completing an MFA in Production at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) in Melbourne in April this year (2020).
I have exhibited works in a range of independently run group shows across Melbourne since 2005. This has included mediums such as clay sculpting, metal and resin casting, paper sculpture, timber concept furniture, illustration and digital projection. My freelance work spans a variety of roles, from design assistant in the ceremonies department for the 2006 Commonwealth Games to set design with independent theatre and performance groups, and emerging visual artist. My articulated, scale model of Dan Potra’s ‘Flying Tram’ for the 2006 Commonwealth games, is held in the Museums Victoria collection.
Nominated for a City of Newcastle Drama Award (CONDA) for Set design, during the final year of my undergraduate degree, I have maintained a strong connection with the performing arts. Choosing to focus this passionate connection in the area of visual art for low-budget productions and the opportunities being offered by accessible digital technology.
Ultimately, I am about creating accessible works. That motivate a curiosity within the audience to learn more about the concept/s behind them.
Simon was supplied with the following page from Newnes’ Pictorial Knowledge Encyclopedia:
Volume 1
Birds and their ways
Beaks are Birds Knives and Forks
About this Artwork
Price: 150 EUR
‚Oh No‘ was my first reaction when I received the Encyclopedia page: Birds and their ways. Beaks are Birds Knives and Forks.
4 black and ugly birds of prey, even a vulture…
What sparked my creative process was the expression: knives and forks. An image of the world, arranged and served like a pizza, with a knife and a fork on either side immediately popped up on my mind.
We, the humans, are the real beasts of prey. We are destroying our planet; we are eating up our earth as if we had a second one still in reserve. Due to our insatiable greed we are finishing off our resources, our diversity of species, our livelihood. The point of no return has been reached but we still deny the responsibility for our actions and the consequences for our environment.
More than a third of all species are already threatened with extinction and the figures for some insects and birds are even worse.
Using my old (and soon banned) plastic cutlery I created a 3-dimensional piece of artwork where the earth on a black and crumbled placemat will soon be eaten up. Parts are already destroyed and missing.
Hopefully the current pandemic will help us to realize how fragile our ecosystem is.
Let’s not forget: We have no second earth up our sleeves!
About Anke
Being a mixed media collagist has the great advantage that I can use every kind of material and various techniques; basically there are no limits, no restrictions.
In order to create new and unusual Art Objects I have been experimenting in years with Glass Fusing, Photography, Painting, Ceramics, Felt, Papier-mâché, Jewellery, Woodcut, Sculpture and Verre Églomisé Technique.
Inspired by the European Tradition of “Guckkästen”, a sort of peep-box, a small peep-show cabinet showing 3-d-images, combining e.g. real images with phantasy and lots of different material.
My aim is to fuse elements of painting, photography and sculpture in order to create a new entity. I have been working intensively on this interdisciplinary approach for several years now.
I prefer small or medium squares as a harmonic picture size. It is a kind of challenge to create a completed story in a very limited space.
I love to improvise and to try out new techniques, new materials and styles.
Link to Anke’s Art Aviso profile HERE
Anke was provided with the following page from Newnes’ Pictorial Knowledge Encyclopedia:
Volume 1
Birds and their ways.
Beaks are Birds Knives and Forks