My guess is that you’ve probably seen this incredible work by Tim Noble & Sue Webster somewhere on the internet before.  The pieces appeal a wide range of art appreciators, from those interested in sculpture to photography to taxidermy.  I think the artworks are extraordinary.  I particularly enjoy getting to see images of the “shadow sculptures” sans spotlight.  An interesting anecdote: British Wildlife, my favorite, below, is made up of the taxidermy collection of Noble’s father, who died shortly before piece’s creation, including “forty-six birds, forty mammals, and two stuffed fish, including a whole swan and even the pet crow Noble kept as a child” (source).

From the artists’ statement: Tim Noble and Sue Webster take ordinary things including rubbish, to make assemblages and then point light to create projected shadows which show a great likeness to something identifiable including self-portraits.  The art of projection is emblematic of transformative art.  The process of transformation, from discarded waste, scrap metal or even taxidermy creatures to a recognizable image, echoes the idea of ‘perceptual psychology’ a form of evaluation used for psychological patients.  Noble and Webster are familiar with this process and how people evaluate abstract forms.  Throughout their careers they have played with the idea of how humans perceive abstract images and define them with meaning.  The result is surprising and powerful as it redefines how abstract forms can transform into figurative ones.

Visit artist's site: timnobleandsuewebster.com

Posted February 6th, 2014