Monday, February 26, 2007

Lost and Safe

Work by Michael Samuels

Rescue Me, 2005. from his exhibition at the rokeby gallery

"Samuels’ hyper-real model environments offer us miniature utopias. These are places which promise a blissful escape, lulling us into reverie. However, these idealised desert islands offer a double-edged paradise... "

Remote and remove. 2006, Resin and mix media

120x60x120 cm

"On first site his enticing seascapes appear to present an idealized paradise, empty and quiet, tranquil and submissive the scenes appear to be ones set out for escapist pleasure though on closer inspection the rocky land masses actually suggest a darker and more mysterious world; "

Save What you Can, 2005

"The seductive blue sea’s made up of layers of resin are initially gratifying yet Samuels is careful to leave the side of his worlds, which he presents on workbenches, raw; immediately the veneer of the sea jars with the reality of the materials and the commonplace apparatus from which they were conjured. Man’s quest for paradise is one for something unobtainable and contrived. "

Left for dead. 2002. Resin and mix media

60x20x120 cm

Microscope. 2002. map, Pinpricks, lightbox, 80x80 cm

Bad Moon. 2003. table and electronics. 70x50x40 cm

via new blog of artist nathan abels - who's art is also to be viewed

got reminded of Island, one of the most beautiful/sad song that i know of King Crimson.

Lyrics by King Crimson (Fripp/Sinfield)

Earth, stream and tree encircled by sea

Waves sweep the sand from my island.

My sunsets fade.

Field and glade wait only for rain

Grain after grain love erodes my

High weathered walls which fend off the tide

Cradle the wind

to my island.

Gaunt granite climbs where gulls wheel and glide

Mournfully glide o'er my island.

My dawn bride's veil, damp and pale,

Dissolves in the sun.

Love's web is spun - cats prowl, mice run

Wreathe snatch-hand briars where owls know my eyes

Violet skies

Touch my island,

Touch me.

Beneath the wind turned wave

Infinite peace

Islands join hands

'Neathe heaven's sea.

Dark harbour quays like fingers of stone

Hungrily reach from my island.

Clutch sailor's words - pearls and gourds

Are strewn on my shore.

Equal in love, bound in circles.

Earth, stream and tree return to the sea

Waves sweep sand from my island,

from me.

youtube listen

17 comments:

Diane Dehler said...

OH, I understand this juxtaposition of Paradise and Reality so well. Fascinating post, Moon.

Nathan said...

His stuff is really interesting isn't it? I like the little seascapes too. Thanks for the plug. Keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for you interest...... the image that you have for Bad Moon is incorrect, but you can see it on my site . Finally i think the seascapes are coming to an end. The new furniture pieces with seedy urban scenes placed on them, seem to be the direction the work is heading.This was started by the piece Bad Moon.

Moon River said...

hello Michael,

Your works have a quality of crystallizing a childhood forgotten dreams and fantasies, and i am attracted to both of your seascapes as well as your "furniture" pieces..i just got totally absorbed by your deep turquoise seas and island this time..I'll be checking your works again for sure :)

Moon River said...

following your personal site titles of each work, made me probably make the titles mistake.
i would love you to correct me with the names.
I've also been looking at your work at the Rokeby gallery, where few of the photos are missing, and i'm very curious to see them (one is called Oblivion )
your "furniture" pieces have lots of humor in it, and a Dada air to it - feels like you had lots of fun while creating it..
* at the Rokeby gallery, the piece that is called bad moon is the table with the street flashlight, i corrected it now, hope it is OK.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the correction. You can see the work 'Oblivion' next to 'Save What You Can ' on my site.
The furniture pieces are a lot more immediate, whereas the seascapes are a long drawn out process. The balance between the two keeps me motivated (and a bit sane due to the meticulous nature of the work!) I don't know whether you saw the show at Rokeby, but the photos don’t do the seascapes justice. They are extremely seductive and tactile. Having said that they are supposed t be places that you would not want to be, initially alluring but hell after 3 days.

Anonymous said...

i find the seascape extremely seductive and tactile. it's only after contemplating on them and on the concept of this hyper-realistic creation as well as was said in one of the critics - the fact that you take care on living the unfinished borders of the work, visible - not letting one "sink" in the allusion completely -and getting him back to reality - and causing of course the comprehension
that one would not want to be there for real ...yes they are so incredibly captivating :)

Nathan said...

how great is it that Michael commented on your post? It's exciting to get the real artists' opinions/insight into their work.

Anonymous said...

wonderful find, moon!

have you seen
http://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk/
?

Diane Dehler said...

Moon,
This evolving conversation is quite as interesting as the original post.

Moon River said...

Hi Nathan,
it is with great pleasure for me, to have the opportunity, to have the artist him self visit here, and speak his mind, and talk about his work.
mind you, it was great pleasure for me, to have you, speak about your art here as well. and I'm learning as you see much about art from your new art blog.

Princess,

yes, it is a rare thing for me to have this evolving comments in my blog, and i enjoy artist whom art i love -to visit here and comment, great pleasure indeed, as much as your poetic insights :)

Moon River said...

Jon,
i remember well Stephen wiltshire
'panoramas of Rome' and posted about it, a year ago or so, the man is a phenomen.
his other works, are not of much interest to me

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm Stephen Wiltshire, great skills, great draughtsman, very talented indeed. BUT it is difficult to see where the “art” is, if you know what I mean.

Moon River said...

yes, i agree

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