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Human ashes used for art project

Tryphena Absent

19:51 / 12.06.06

Emma Fenelon advertised on the internet for people to donate their loved ones' remains for the project.

There is a little more information here.

This strikes me as quite an interesting idea and I thought other people might be interested too. What do people think of this generally? I suppose there are questions of the longevity of the artwork because she's a student. Questions about the criteria she used to select the ashes- did she just like the people or do you think there was some other, more specific motivation? Would you offer the ashes of someone close to you for an art project?

All Acting Regiment

07:29 / 13.06.06

Well, I think it is an interesting idea and so long as the people involved wanted to be part of it I see no problem with it. People who want to have their ashes in an artwork should be allowed ot do so.

Obvious, but I'm saying that now in anticipation of those who decide for the deceased that they wouldn't want this and start causing problems for the artist and others involved.

unbecoming

13:15 / 13.06.06

personally i don't see anything wrong with using human ashes in artwork but in this specific instance the motivation for their use seems rather vague.

The ashes from human remains obviously carry intruiging levels of significance to the piece of art but from the student's discussion of why they were being used i couldn't see any particular reason for it beyond it being a gimmick. This is perhaps to do with the very short interview provided by the second link.
Nor does there seem to be any particular reason why those remains where being used (other than they were available) or why they were being used to glaze porcelain trees. There doesn't seem to have been a great deal of research into the qualities and resonances of the ash as a material; its connotations assosiation etc.
I think it is a potentially very powerful idea, but one that has maybe been tacked on to another idea (porcelain trees) without too much consideration.

Tryphena Absent

23:59 / 17.06.06

I think that might be a fault of the articles representation rather than the artist. It seems like a good reason to actually go and see the show, which may contain more detail.

Saint Keggers

23:29 / 26.06.06

Am I the only one wondering if the actual art is any good?Yes, I know 'good' is subjective but what Im wondering is if the artist is trying to impress (or con, or shock)the audience with the idea of incorporating human instead of delivering quality artworks.

EmmaFenelon

10:19 / 27.06.06

Is my work any good? This is always a personal and subjective point of view, so come and see my work for yourselves at Camberwell College till the 1st of July. Having dedicated my final degree project to this work and a huge amount of time, sweat & tears I am pleased at the outcome and proud to stand next to them. I have had many moving and favourable responses to the trees and I have tried to handle the situation with sensitivity. The trouble with media attention is that it is mainly interested in easily digestible bites of info and any longer and more considered answers are just ignored.

Triplets

11:49 / 27.06.06

Face!

Like Ms. F suggests we might be best off considering what kind of filter this info is coming through.

If ah might ask, did you register here to respond to this thread or to engage with the rest of the Blith?

EmmaFenelon

14:20 / 27.06.06

I joined both to respond and to engage. I am new to this as I have not had much time recently working all hours trying to get everything done for my degree but now I shall investigate this new world.

electric monk

15:50 / 27.06.06

Emma, I wonder if you might post a few pics of these pieces. I'm quite interested in seeing them, esp. any close-ups you've got. Won't be able to attend the exhibit, being a durty Amerikaner an' all.

Thanks in advance.

EmmaFenelon

19:38 / 28.06.06

I don't have any pictures on the web that I can post at the moment but there are one or two on my "work in progress" web site: www.emmafenelon.com or www.telegraph.co.uk/.../news/2006/06/16/weekpix.xml&site=news for a photo taken by the press association. I don't think the phots do the trees any justice as they are more subtle and varied in "the flesh" so the speak! I am taking more photos tomorrow.

Saint Keggers

01:52 / 29.06.06

I like what I see so far. Waiting for more.

electric monk

15:56 / 30.06.06

They're quite beautiful. Wish I could be there for the show. I'd love to spend some time studying these, sketching them and such. Thanks for sharing!

unbecoming

16:46 / 30.06.06

i too would be really keen to see more images of the trees, espescially how they have been installed into the space as I imagine that would be a major element of the feeling convayed by the piece.

I would also be really interested to hear you talk more about the work and what got you onto the subject but i understand that it can sometimes be a pain in the arse.

Mourne Kransky

23:34 / 30.06.06

Been a really busy week at work, Emma F, or else I would have loved to pop down to see your work. It sounded, and looked, very interesting. I work near there too, so I have no excuse but for busyness! Sorreee. Welcome to the Lith.

EmmaFenelon

09:39 / 05.07.06

Hopefully the trees should be on show again soon, but for now it is time to take the degree show down. As much hard work as putting it up!

My tree project was based on the theme of shelter. In particular how I feel sheltered by nature and how the vegetable world (as opposed to the animal world) seems quietly connected with our emotions. Walking in the local london woodlands is where I find answers and the space to ponder and feel.

I also feel that we start life on the ground laid by our ancestors and in many ways are sheltered by those who have walked this way before.

I wanted the trees to be layered both physically with many minerals and glazes but also with meanings and stories.

unbecoming

10:32 / 06.07.06

sounds interesting, its a shame i can't see the trees actually in the space, any comment made will be useless otherwise i suppose.

its good that you've got another oppertunity to show them.

i take it the publicity is a bit of a double edged sword? Having just taken down my degree show too, i'm also in the post art-school limbo and curious about others' experience.

Tryphena Absent

22:48 / 07.07.06

Emma, I hope you don't mind me asking but I was wondering how you feel about the relationship between the woodlands and the city? Does human construction have any bearing on your relationship with ancestry? The way that the organic and inorganic interplay is very interesting in art generally.

I didn't get to see the trees and I'm a bit disappointed so I hope they get exhibited again soon.

EmmaFenelon

21:27 / 13.07.06

Having lived in cities, the countryside and in suburbs, I find I have, oddly, more contact with, at least the symbols of the countryside: trees, streams, grassland etc while in london, where I am surrounded by common land, woodland and parks. In the countryside it always feels as if everyone lives in their cars going from A to B and you can't seem to walk anywhere freely for "Keep out - Private signs".

Obviously there is more to the discussion than that but those are my immediate throughts.

Dragon

02:46 / 19.07.06

I remember ashes being mixed with the ink in a comic book:

When Mark Gruenwald tragically passed away at the "too young" age of 42 in 1996, one of his farewell wishes was that he be cremated, and that his ashes be mixed in with the print run of a comic book.

electric monk

11:59 / 19.07.06

That's nice. However, thus far we've been discussing one specific piece of artwork (described in the summary) and I'd like that to remain the case. You may be better off starting a new thread if you'd like to discuss that more. Possibly in Comics.

Olulabelle

10:24 / 20.07.06

I think Dragon's point relates to the wider issue of using human ashes in art, whether that be porcelain trees or comic books and as such it should be welcome in this thread.

Dragon, do you feel that the use of ashes in art symbolises anything for you?

I wish I had thought of incorporating my father's ashes into a piece of work, but that is for personal reasons, because I would like them to be near to me and a part of something permanent.

I like the 'recycling' aspect of it too, especially being mixed with other natural materials.

EmmaFenelon

16:36 / 30.07.06

My trees are going to be on show again for "Art in Clay" at Hatfield House from the 4th - 6th of August in case anyone wants to see them. I am (hopefully) going install them outside as I would like to see what they look like in that environment.

I have lots of ahses left over and once I have found a place to work (quite a struggle!) then I am going to make more work with ashes, possibly for a wood in the southwest of england if the project comes off. The trouble with making such large work is finding somewhere to fire it now that I no longer have access to the college kilns!

EmberLeo

01:00 / 04.08.06

Can you not make arrangements with a college for access to their kilns?

EmmaFenelon

12:21 / 07.08.06

I may be able to use the college kilns and I also have a few other possible plans......

I have just been really irritated by a magazine who tracked me down as they were doing a story on women who had found their art later in life, only for them to tell me that I was in fact too old since I was 50 in March. I feel all these age limits are so wrong. Maybe they need to hang on to one last way to discriminate? I am more powerful and more myself now than I ever have been and it is their loss in categorising people.

EmmaFenelon

20:35 / 12.09.06

I'm going to be showing some of my work at the Affordable Arts Fair in Battersea from the 18th to 22nd October if any of you can make it along and say hello!

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