Sergie Isupov

1990 BFA/MFA Ceramics, Art Institute of Tallinn, Estonia.

Sergie Isupov was born in 1963 in Stavropole, Russia and later immigrated to the United States where he currently resides in Massachusetts. Exhibiting and leading workshops internationally, Isupov is most well-known for his works in porcelain using traditional hand building and sculpting techniques.

Isupov works in a variety of media techniques including printmaking, drawing, sculpture, and ceramics. Throughout his various practices, he incorporates themes of erotic, relational, and surreal narratives centered around abstracted human and anthropomorphic figures. In the artworks shown below, we see a combination of attention to the surface and form with narrative painting using stains and clear glaze. Each "side" of these sculptures provide a unique perspective to the narrative that Isupov has created through the use of imagery. Often human, animal, or anthropomorphic are intimately interacting with or are rendered on the surface of one another.

Front View                                       Back View

"The Challenge" 2012 porcelain (high fire), slip, glaze 24.5 x 10 x 8.5 inch

" ...I am a student of the universe and a participant in the harmonic chaos of contrasts and opposites: dark – light; male – female; good – evil.."

(Taken from artist statement)

Front View

     Back View

"Collection of Experiences" 2011, porcelain (high fire), glaze, slips, 16 x 7 x 6 inch.

" ...I create a new, intimate universe that reveals the relationships, connections and contradictions as I perceive them."

(Taken from artist statement)

Front View                                     Back View

"Humanimals series Lovable" 2011, porcelain (high fire), glaze, slips, 16 x 7 x 6 inch.

" ...my work portrays characters placed in situations that are drawn from my imagination but based on real life experience... "

(Taken from artist statement)

"Growth Rings" 2016, porcelain (high fire), glaze, slips, 23 x 10 x 6.5 inch.

"My artwork captures a composite of fleeting moments, hand gestures, eye movements that follow and reveal the sentiments expressed..."

(Taken from artist statement)

I selected these images specifically because they fit the criteria of the size and content of our new project, and shows a range of surrealist imagery depicted within form and surface imagery. I am most excited by his illustration of experiential perspective, and the juxtaposition of these experiences.

The Challenge specifically illustrates a sense danger, violence, and intimacy within the abstracted perspective of this surreal situational narratives.  He is able to depict three full figures by layering within the forms and utilizing imagery. ( How many figures or narratives can I achieve in one 24" form for project 3?) I find that there is conflict as the viewer, of we whether should feel calm or uneasy, at peace or in an anxious state as we deconstruct these narratives.

Links:  

http://sergeiisupov.com

http://ferrincontemporary.com/portfolio/sergei-isupov/

http://hifructose.com/2014/08/29/sergei-isupovs-surreal-ceramics-combine-paintings-with-sculpture/

~Summer B.~

Joh Byrd

John Byrd

      He teaches at the University of South Florida, received his BFA from Louisiana state university and his MFA from the university of Washington in 2000.  He won the Myhre fellowship at the Archie Bray Foundation and the Virginia A. Groot award in 2004.  He won the juror’s prize at the World Ceramic Biennial and is in many collections worldwide.

    

Untitled (hunting dog)

17x33x9 inches

Porcelain, taxidermy (fox), cast plastic, mixed media

Tricky Buck

33x25x22 inches

Ceramic, taxidermy, cast plastic, smoking unit, led light, smoke fluid.

"A significant part of my visual language is that of autonomous, decorative art objects (figurines, trophies, souvenirs). Within a domestic space, I’m intrigued by the ability of an encapsulated aesthetic to establish, challenge, and defy characteristics of culture and class."

Untitled (bobcat)

23x14x11 inches

Hand-built, polished porcelain, taxidermy, cast plastic, mixed media.

(N)ever the Worst of Us

Hand-built Porcelain, taxidermy, mixed media

66x22x22

(N)ever the Worst of Us

(Detail)

What I needed in an Ashtray

Hand-built ceramic, electric light, mixed media.

24 x 36 x 20 inches

   He talks about influences coming largely from childhood and background as a ceramic artist.  Growing up in the rural south but not originally from there he was around a hunting culture but felt like an outsider looking in.  The consumer hunter culture and their trophies can be seen clearly in his work.  He isn’t directly responsible for killing the creatures he uses in his work but does acknowledge that by consuming them he plays a role.  He rationalizes using them by attempting to elevate them to an honorable state, some of his work seems to be humorous so I am not sure if this is successful.  He claims to not make a firm stance on animal rights which would be difficult because his process may conflict heavily.  These are interesting pieces that do draw a viewer in to look closer.  The story they tell isn’t always obvious but it seems intentional.

      Many of his pieces have a beautiful surface that is achieved by polishing porcelain. While looking for how I came across this site that explains what it is and has a few other interesting techniques (http://www.bakedclaystudio.com/surfaces ).  From a few other threads it seems that the porcelain is wet sanded after bisque, working up in grit.  This gives a unique marble like finish.

                           

  Citations

Artist Talk – Everyday Atrocities: John Byrd, Gregory Green, & Julie Weitz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AIHUrAKkl4

http://www.johnbyrd.tv/

https://artaxis.org/john-byrd/

http://ayumihorie.com/obamaware.html