>>PREVIEW
CONVERGENCE: THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY BFA GRADUATING EXHIBITION, 2006
Runs until June 9
Nickle Arts Museum
(University of Calgary)
In recent times, the word convergence has been primarily restricted to the idea that all types of communication devices and media will morph into one sophisticated and easy to use portal. Time and personal preference have resisted this corporate-driven idea.
In the University of Calgary’s Bachellor of Fine Arts students’ form of convergence, all types of mediums are thrown together to create a brave new state of art – or not. It’s not unusual today to view an installation of a fabric-based work that incorporates film and digital elements. Does that make the work better? Does it make the work more interesting? The simple answer is a resounding: No.
Call it old-school, but skilled artists still need to be trained in the fundamentals of traditional art practices before they can go on to create works of art that break new ground.
One only has to view the elegant line drawings Picasso created as a 12-year-old to fully comprehend this point. It might seem boring, but students practicing to be artists should remember this as they tuck their portfolios under their arms, while out looking to become the art world’s next big star.
A few of the students showcased in the exhibition, Convergence, have taken heed of this and concentrated on mastering core skills before jumbling together a mélange of techniques and materials that end up becoming less than more.
One such student is Melissa Schwegmann, who has created what are part nightmarish, part children’s storybook drawings. Well-drawn and coloured, these 12 pen and ink works feature a plump character devoid of a head, who takes a journey through diverse landscapes filled with birds, rainbow-coloured trees and other wondrous terrain.
Another student who is paying attention to the fundamentals here is Jill Ho-You, whose elegant set of etchings with a spider, dragonfly and a beehive are the stars of the show. Again, beautifully executed, her skills aptly demonstrate that not all art needs to be plugged-in.
Taking the medium of photography and displaying it in light boxes is old hat, but Jonathan Groneweg uses this technique to good effect with his night photography. His print Home at Night is particularly effective, with a simple shot of a garage turned into a strangely compelling subject.
The merging of all mediums has become a point of pride for many artists today, but as several of these BFA graduates show us, sometimes remaining free of convergence is the best course to creating good art. |
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