SEMESTER 2-week one

Nathalie Djurberg's 'Claymations'.

Swedish artist Nathalie Djurberg's intricately constructed claymation films are both terrifyingly
disturbing and artlessly sweet.

The new works created for the Venice Biennale explore a surrealistic Garden of Eden in which all that is natural goes awry.

She exposes the innate fear of what is not understood and confronts viewers with the complexity of emotions.

Nathalie Djurberg was awarded the silver lion for a promising young artist at the Venice
Art Biennale 09.
(http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/6886/nathalie-djurberg)

Research Djurberg's work in order to answer the following questions;

1. What do you understand by the word 'claymation'?

The animation in question is comprised solely of clay. The fragmented and subtle movement of the cay is what makes up each frame.

2. What is meant by the term 'surrealistic Garden of Eden'? and 'all that is natural goes awry'?
its pretty literal.

3. What are the 'complexity of emotions' that Djurberg confronts us with?
Theres a lot going on in her work, mostly sex or naked people being crazy. Her work is like a nightmare which draws in the viewer with the clay which are essentially 3dimensional people running or crawling naked while being attacked or fornicating. I think that with the title "the garden of eden" its a view of humanity itself, from the stance that the garden of eden is said to be the birthplace of our race. Perhaps its a comment on the 'natural man' instinct habit the nature of the beasts themselves. I also think if it were film or animation it would not have the same effect, it would be more easily dismissed.

4. How does Djurberg play with the ideas of children's stories, and innocence in some of her work?
Claymation or any animation suggests that the content is for children, but hers is clearly not. There is a strange sense of disapproval, which I suppose the character's interactions in this childlike context brings out. The surreal dreamlike world she creates with the clay is like a vacuum for attention. Much like the naughty kid who kicks every one in kindy.

5. There is a current fascination by some designers with turning the innocent and sweet into something disturbing. Why do you think this has come about?
Probably because its disturbing and shocking and mass media has dulled the senses of millions of people worldwide. Therefore exploiting symbols of the innocent in new and inventive ways is the only means they can think of to turn the heads of journalists and the public eye in their direction.

6. In your opinion, why do you think Djurberg's work is so interesting that it was chosen for the Venice Biennale?
Theres been wobbly claymation before.. so I suppose the degradation of the female figure and disproportional mess that resembles the world in which she was featured must have done the trick.

7. Add some of your own personal comments on her work.
I cant say I particularly care for her works. I also cant say I know precisely what it is shes trying to communicate with them.
Some one thinks its art. So it must be so.