Nathalie Djurberg's 'Claymations'

1. What do you understand by the word 'claymation'?

From what i understand from the word 'claymation' it is a series of pictures to make a motion film, using clay as the main resource for making up the characters and landscapes. Clay is a good choice because its easily mouldable to fit any shape, therefore changing characters pose for each pictures is easily done. Most common stop claymation movie that comes to mind is 'Wallace and Gromit'.

2. What is meant by the term 'surrealistic Garden of Eden'? and 'all that is natural goes awry'?

Following from the term 'Surrealistic', Djurberg's work has been described to take something such as nature and put a altered view on it. Therefore its not an exact representation of nature but a alternative view upon it. Giving a slight definition of nature being peaceful and elegant but characterized in a irrational, fantastic arrangement of material making it seem terrifying all the same. In this work she has used clay. With the term 'all that is natural goes awry', it is takling about how nature becomes askewed as if whatever we see that is natural is not what it seems.

http://www.yourdictionary.com/surrealism

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nathalie-djurberg

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/awry

3. What are the 'complexity of emotions' that Djurberg confronts us with?

With her dream-like works she opens up the audiences mind to all the emotions she displays in her works. In her claymation 'Garden Of Eden' she gives us a terrifying, distressing approach yet still it is sweet and pleasing to the eye. This tears the audience in a variety of different emotions that is almost confusing yet understandable, hence describing the term 'complexity of emotions'.

4. How does Djurberg play with the ideas of children's stories, and innocence in some of her work?

Djurberg uses children stories as a basis to take from, making usually innocent characters and themes and skews them to make them into these disturbing x-rated claymation's. In a sense you can tell she is merely trying to show her idea of reality within the dark imagination of the human mind and uses them in the complete opposite output such as a children's story. This really confuses the audiences, challenging whether to keep looking although knowing its only an imitation of the real (surreal) being only clay and a series of images.

http://artnews.org/artist.php?i=1211

5. There is a current fascination by some designers with turning the innocent and sweet into something disturbing. Why do you think this has come about?

I think among designers it has become desired to challenge the audience and make them think. Therefore by taking something that is already relative to the audience and making it into something sinister and disturbing confuses the audiences sense of normality, therefore challenging the audience. It has come about through the idea of individualism and designers wanting to stand out from the normal and give the audience a new concept or idea. I have also found myself in my studio work doing the same and i think i do this for the same reason; trying to come up with something new or hasn't been done.

6. In your opinion, why do you think Djurberg's work is so interesting that it was chosen for the Venice Biennale?

Her work is definitely interesting, because it pushes the audiences boundaries and challenges them with a aesthetically beautiful representation of the garden of eden but making it all the same disturbing and unethical. The audience is left wondering how to react or respond to her works however still engaged and intrigued.

7. Add some of your own personal comments on her work.

I particularly liked the musical score in her works by Hans Berg. It supplemented this psychotic yet happy undertone throughout the her works indicating theres more going on then whats going on. It communicated a sense of anticipation and captivated the audience into her world she had created. I think looking at her actual exhibition it would almost hypnotise you into her crazy dream world, opening up to a surreal sense of reality.