Born 18 Nov 1948 in Cuba - Died 8 September 1985
I think Ana Mendieta’s art is very interesting, she was sent to live in the USA when she was 12.
The Siluetas Series:
Between 1973-1978 Ana made over 200 earth body works, she molded her silhouette in the landscape, trying to return to the material source (the country she left as a child) I that think this shows that she was feeling absent.
Ana Mendieta
Yoko Ono
Born February 18 1933 in Tokyo
I really like Yoko Ono’s art, I have chosen 2 pieces that I think show both absence and presence.
Add Colour (Refugee Boat) 2016
This starts as a white boat in a white room. The visitors are each given a blue marker and are asked to write messages of concern for refugees and people in minorities, the space eventually fills with blue messages and thoughts, like a blue ocean.
Cut Piece 1964
This is a performance piece of art. Yoko sits on a stage without moving and the audience take it in turns to cut pieces of her clothing off. I think this shows presence because she has made herself the artwork and the audience is part of it too. She is dealing with violence and vulnerability.
Katharina Grosse
Born 2 October 1961 Germany
Katharina Grosse is a German visual artist. She is known for her large scale installations to create immersive visual experiences. Her art uses architecture, sculpture and painting.
She uses bright, sprayed on acrylic paints to make large sculptural elements and smaller wall works. Her work is immersive so is presence.
Zarina Bhimji
Born 1963 in Uganda to Indian parents.
Zarina is a photographer and a film maker.
When she was 11 her family were expelled from Uganda, along with the rest of the Asian population.
They moved to Britain,. Zarina’s work is about identity and belonging, she photographs abandoned buildings, many in India and Uganda. I think Zarina’s work shows absence because the buildings are empty and presence because they used to be filled with people.
