|
Profile 
C L A R EP-P-PEPPERONI is my art blog in which i blog about: My inspirations, art works, views on certain issues, experiences, etc. Yes, my name is Clare and no, i am no professional artist, just one who simply enjoys doing art. Without art, my life will lose its meaning and i will be square, so if you feel something sharp jab you, it probably means i haven't been doing art. Just kidding. |
|
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Soap
7:55 AM
Fei Zao (2008) by Paulo Tamburella
As I stepped into the Singapore
Art Biennale 2008, I saw a white sheet of lumpy objects scattered all over the
ground underneath a tree. Those lumpy objects had a sweet smell which attracted
me over to have a closer look. Curiously, I went over and realised they were all
soap bars!
This art piece by Paolo
Tamburella involves more than 8,000 bars of soap. Weeks were taken simply for
unwrapping and cutting these bars of soap even with volunteers. To make the
newly opened 8,000 bars of soap look used, Tamburella and the volunteers fused two
or more soap bars into a lump. This
was a monumental task which required much dedication and determination from the
volunteers involved and Tamburella himself. Some volunteers even sacrificed their entire week’s
time just to fuse soap!
I found it quite strange that so many people
would dedicate so much effort and time for an art work. Usually it would be the
artist himself who is so dedicated to his work; I never knew that people would
actually help the artist complete his art piece without getting paid or asking
for any sort of reward.
Opening more than 8,000 bars of
soap, cutting them then fusing them is indeed a very tough job. The amount of
effort and strength used for this art piece must have been sky high. However, I
do not think that all these efforts are wasted. The smell of this art piece
attracts attention and simply standing beside that white blanket of soap makes
me feel calm and serene.
Tamburella made this art piece to depict a
life lived, with daily routines and rituals that mark out a lifetime use of
consumption production, such as soap. The idea of repeated actions in daily and
ordinary life associates to some memories. And these memories are Tamburella’s
attempts to show an aspect of deep humanity.
I feel that Tamburella has
successfully shown an aspect of deep humanity. When I was looking at the art
piece, the smell reminded me of times in the bathroom and some incidents like
bubble baths or falls. The empty chair and pail reminded me of my previous maid
who sometimes washes our clothes manually. And the emptiness of that chair
depicts that she has gone somewhere else.
The tree in the middle of the
soap field also adds to the atmosphere. The tree is huge and stands strong
alone in the middle of a white space. I feel that the size of the tree shows
that it is old. It is lonely with no company but it does not seem bored like
how one bathes everyday yet one does not get bored of it.
I found this work rather
interesting and the reason behind the making of it even more. This is the first
time I ever saw an art piece that uses the sense of smell to change the mood
and feelings of the audience. And I certainly hope to be able to view more of
such art pieces.
Labels: writings |
Search Labels others inspirations writings art works course work photography Archives  January 2011 May 2011 August 2011 September 2011Friends Chermaine Chiawei Elizabeth Heyao Jiashin Linhui Liyi Lois Mingzhen Rachel Ruisian Shihui Shiyin Shiyun Valerie Xinda Xindi Xuedi Xueying Zhiping Zhiyi Zhuhong |