'Shin’s Untitled series of drawings were created by using wine bottles as stamps, dipping the bottoms of the bottles in different wines and staining the paper. Compositions of overlapping circles display a rich variety of reddish blue-gray hues, reflecting the assortment of wine types and bottle styles'. 'Jean Shin is nationally recognized for her monumental installations that transform everyday objects into elegant expressions of identity and community. For each project, she amasses vast collections of a particular object—prescription pill bottles, sports trophies, sweaters—which are often sourced through donations from individuals in a participating community. These intimate objects then become the materials for her conceptually rich sculptures, videos and site-specific installations. Distinguished by her meticulous, labor-intensive process, and her engagement of community, Shin’s arresting installations reflect individuals’ personal lives as well as collective issues that we face as a society.' Images and quotations from http://www.jeanshin.com/index.htm Have just become aware of Jean Shin's work. Yesterday in fact. Am very drawn to it. Particuarly the circles, as ever. But I'm most intrigued by her reusing of everyday objects. Things that already have a history, a story. Using them on mass. Giving them a new identity. A new reason for being. It's been a recurrent theme for me this week. I've been teaching about the works of Sarah Sze (again using household/ common objects in unexpected ways, but this time creating stories where before there were perhaps none). Had I known about this work, I would have used the two artists together. I'm searching for sustainability in my own practise. Really, really trying. I do already use a huge amount of salvaged items (all my base glass and metal content. And fabric). But I still use new where I don't yet have an alternative. I'm looking to source old wooden frames, boxes, trays for my exhibition next year. And to start firing my kiln from solar energy. It's my aim to launch my work as ethical and sustainable and I have just under a year to get my head around it (this is possibly quite stupid. Time will tell). Meanwhile. Jean Shin's work is raising my spirits. Keeping my pecker up. I like it. A lot. And am going to show it to my students next week. |