Matt Collishaw

I have previously looked at this artist but I always find myself returning to view his work because of the vast amount of pieces he has that look at intriging and contraversal subjects.
I have recently looked at his video installation piece 'I Like To Get My Loving' but I after viewing his indepth and extensive collection of work on his website I discovered other pieces that are relevant and provide ideas for the next stages of my practice.

Firstly would be his series 'Infectious Flowers' which was inspired by collector JK Huysman who became obsessed with rare flowers and even went as far to collect flowers that were infected with tropical diseases. Collishaw then created a series of flowers where he digitally merged images of skin infections onto the petals and stems. I believe it was to illustrate the infection of the collector's mind as well as show that there is a thin line between repulsion and beauty.

 

 

These works relate to my practice because of the combination between two themes - flowers meaning growth; infection meaning decay and decline. The pieces relate to my theme of life cycles as the beauty of the flowers are destroyed by the hideous infections upon them, similar to the rotting of trees and carcasses during the final stages of life cycles. However, the diseases upon the flowers do not repel you so much that you wish not to view them - out of morbid curiousity and an intrigue with the repulsive we seem to be drawn to the images. The interesting shapes of the swollen infections are something we feel compelled to study and explore even if a part of us is revolted. I am interested in this concept as I believe there is beauty in all stages of life cycles - even in decay can nature offer sights that we are drawn to such as the vivid colours/patterns of fungi, the almost infectious way it consumes dying trees is fascinating.

I want to explore ways I can show the beauty in the decline of a organism as well as exposing the repulsive features of the growth of organism - I am interested in possibly using anatomy images to illustrate connections with different life stages. In my Statement of Intent I expressed the need to connect with the human perspective of nature as well as exploring the general cycles of life - I want to look at the despondency of the separation from nature but also the similarities with it's life and death - both which might reveal both beautiful and disgusting images/aspects.