Week 1 - Nathalie Djurberg

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

The word 'claymation' refers to animation made using clay. This is also called 'stop motion'. "Each frame, or still picture, is recorded on film or digital media and then played back in rapid succession." (wikipedia)

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

'Garden of Eden' is a term that refers to God's garden where the first man and woman were created. It was seen as a kind of oasis or paradise. A surrealistic garden of eden would suggest that it is a warped or surreal paradise that Nathalie creates. Surrealism in definition is surprising or unexpected, which is exactly what Djurberg's claymation is. I think the term 'all that is natural goes awry' means that nature takes an unexpected course or path. This could refer to anything and everything because something that is 'natural' is a very broad word.

3. What are the 'complexity of emotions' that Djurberg confronts us with?

I think her work is summed up best by the guardian article that says 'Nathalie Djurberg's claymation films are sweet, depraved things that can shock, amuse and confound in equal measure.' I think when most people think about claymation they instantly think about children's cartoons they used to watch. This immediately presents a contradiction when viewing Djurberg's work, such as Turn into me, 2008 as some of the themes in her claymation can be very graphic or startling.

4. How does Djurberg play with the ideas of children's stories, and innocence in some of her work?

Like I mentioned in question 3, Djurberg plays with the idea of children's cartoons being in claymation and how traditionally it hasn't really been seen as an artform. The fact that Djurberg mashes together the innocence of claymation and adult themes like violence makes her works very interesting and confronting. 

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?

I think this so the artist can create something shocking. In our society juxtaposing innocence and violence or something disturbing is seen as something very wrong. It might also be so the artist can cause a reaction from the audience. There is no better way of creating reaction in someone than to shock it out of them.

6. In your opinion, why do you think Djurberg's work is so interesting that it was chosen for the Venice Biennale?
I think because her work is so interesting in it's way that it uses a 'childish' media to convey ideas and scenes that shock the audience and really inspire people to create their own opinions on these issues.

7. Add some of your own personal comments on her work. 

I really enjoy Djurberg's work and how confronting it can be. I also found it interesting how grotesque and disturbing she could make something like claymation into.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_animation
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/aug/25/artist-nathalie-djurberg
http://www.modernamuseet.se/en/Stockholm/Exhibitions/2008/Eclipse---Art-in-a-Dark-Age/Artists-biograhpies/Nathalie-Djurberg/
http://we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/2009/10/nathalie-djurberg-who-won-the.php