Installation view SHADOWWORK Marlborough Contemporary NYC 2018
Erik Bergrin
Installation view SHADOWWORK Marlborough Contemporary NYC 2018"
From the artist:
"The basis of my spiritual studies is to examine my mind using different meditation techniques and discover all the negative states I want to change. By bringing up all the negative things in yourself and knowing how to confront them, you are face to face with your own demons. My work is my way of bringing out my demons. Turning these states of mind into physical objects in order to confront and change them. The time and energy involved in creating a body of work allows for the time and energy to dedicate to understanding this shadow. It is the alchemy of turning these negative states buried in your subconscious into your own creative power and happiness.
Coming from a background in costume design and building, I use the materials and processes used in clothing construction and fiber art to investigate the body sculpturally. Rather than divorcing the materials from their connection to the body in terms of clothing, I am inspired by the shapes that the body can provide as a base for the construction of objects. These works are formed as if surrounding a body, rather than mimicking or delineating the figure. My work acts as a sculptural vessel for a potential body, rather than having the function of a wearable piece.
Using fiber in its relation to tradition, and techniques such as weaving, coiling, sewing, felting, and embroidery the materials become cultural symbols about my personal myth. I make it apparent that the human hand is being used to make the pieces, showing the labor intensive, repetitive, and intimate process involved as a metaphor to show how we build up our own demons throughout millions of thoughts during many lifetimes. Handling these visceral materials, the work relates to the possibility of housing a person without giving that particular individual an identity. It is a reflection of getting extremely familiar with your identity your entire life, only to realize the inherent self does not exist. You must get extremely familiar with this identification in order to let go of identity and talk about the collective mind. When a viewer is confronted with the work, they can be awakened to all of these possibilities and the work then becomes a catalyst for change within themselves. "
Installation view THE 8 DISSOUTIONS Morris Museum New Jersey 2021"
Installation view THE 8 DISSOUTIONS Morris Museum New Jersey 2021"
Installation view THE 8 DISSOUTIONS Morris Museum New Jersey 2021"
Installation view THE 8 DISSOUTIONS Morris Museum New Jersey 2021"
Installation view THE 8 DISSOUTIONS Morris Museum New Jersey 2021"
Installation view THE 8 DISSOUTIONS Morris Museum New Jersey 2021"
Installation view SHADOWWORK Marlborough Contemporary NYC 2018"
Installation view SHADOWWORK Marlborough Contemporary NYC 2018"
"The Crematorium" 6 feet 7 inches x 4 feet, Wool, Jute, Metal, Cotton, Hooping Wire. photo by Alex Lockett
"Dissolution 8: Emptiness" 6 feet x 1.5 feet. Sseaweed, Bismuth, Wool, Boning, Clay.
"The disappearing of the rainbow body 3" 6 feet 8 inches x 2 feet Dyed Reed, Cotton, Nylon Threads,
"The disappearing of the rainbow body 1" 6 feet 8 inches x 1 foot Dyed Reed, Cotton, Nylon Threads, Hooping Threads, Jute Rope photo by Alex Lockett.
"BEGIN" 6 feet 8 inches x 2 feet Cotton, Poly Threads, Tibetan Singing Bowl, Wood. photo by Alex Lockett.
"JUANITA" 6 feet 11 inches x 1.5 feet Jule rope, Teeth, Clay, Boning, Burlap. photo by Alex Lockett.
