{"id":37143,"date":"2018-02-19T20:24:55","date_gmt":"2018-02-20T02:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/?p=37143"},"modified":"2023-11-15T21:36:32","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T03:36:32","slug":"shawn-porter-chiharu-shiota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/shawn-porter-chiharu-shiota\/","title":{"rendered":"Shawn Porter & Chiharu Shiota"},"content":{"rendered":"
Shawn Porter\u2019s works are derived from observation, developed by idea, and realized through a mastery of diverse materials and technique. The physicality of his installations capture the viewer with an aesthetic composed of formal elements and a playful taste for pushing the boundaries of material, balance and weight, holding an individual long enough for reflection of self, structure and society.<\/span><\/div>\n
Past works have included representations of seedpod forms, which snag or snare an unsuspecting host, resulting in the spread of its seed. First installations included \u201cthe destructive long-term effects of nuclear testing and the potential impact of groundwater contamination,\u201d says the artist. Recent works, he explains, \u201care representative of physical, societal and political support systems devised to contain, restrain and direct, presenting issues associated with the propping of failed systems and the resulting need for additional systemic layering.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cIn Silence,\u201d Chiharu Shiota, Centre Pasquart, 2008<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The artist he loves is\u00a0Chiharu Shiota, whose works inspire his \u201cthrough the way she pushes the volume of space with seemingly minimal use of object and color, that is, if you consider using miles of yarn (red or black) a minimal approach to pushing the volume of a given space,\u201d says Porter.<\/p>\n

\u201cShiota\u2019s installations are immersive, absent of clutter and very well crafted, providing still space for contemplation while referencing the works meaning relative to her observations and thought at that location and time. \u201c<\/p>\n

Porter describes her works as large and loaded with tension. \u201cAlthough I don\u2019t pull visual reference from her work, on a basic level, Shiota has inspired me to work larger, more densely and with an increased imposition on the viewer, offering small spaces to hide, sit or lay; space for respite.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer use of familiar objects like chairs, beds and pianos load these installations with metaphorical reference, reminding me of \u201cPlay Response and Progression of the Formless\u201d the Co-Lab installation done with Ron Russon [for Artists of Utah at Poor Yorick Studios in 2015]. \u00a0\u201cAlthough we used a ladder in that installation it had no metaphorical reference, it was just there and we began playing with it as structure for material support, structure for play, metaphoric development was entirely up to the viewer. \u00a0The experience at Co-Lab pushed me to play with materials, objects and space; this combined with the inspiration from Chiharu Shiota\u2019s ability to push volume makes me want to play harder,\u201d says Porter.<\/p>\n