#sheila vand

Review of TED Talk artist, Alexa Meade.

Meade is an American artist who became famous for her paintings that were produced on live human models. Her innovative style challenges traditional painting methodologies, and forces the audience to question what a painting is and how important the subject within the image is.

Meade also takes the concept of ‘trompe-l'oeil’ (the process of making a three dimensional scene appear to be two dimensional) in her work as she applies the paint to the model and then photographs the finished piece.

“I can take a photograph from any angle and the scene will look 2-D.” - Meade

Meade states that her inspiration for this idea came from observing shadows, and a fascination with the absence of light and trying to preserve the shadow, trace it with the use of acrylic paint as a medium. She found it intriguing that the paint would not actually be noticable until the light shifted, and the object created a new shadow. I found it frustrating that Meade did not explain her reason for using acrylic paint, so I presume it is because of the quick drying and practical qualities.

Her notion developed to include how shadows are temporary, and have a temperament for movement, that they are never static. This constant motion is dependant on light and an object to create a shadow. Meade commented that rather than painting the shadow on a canvas, due to the flatness and immobile qualities, she would transfer the life onto her models and paint them instead.

An interesting development that this light and space took on was that her subjects were allowed to walk and go on with their daily lives. Meade actively followed the models, photographing her walking canvases as they interacted with the public.

Meade collaborated with artist Sheila Vand, using her as a subject within her imagery. By painting Vand semi-submerged in a bath of milk, Meade documented the 'unexpected’ results as her limbs became hidden and blended with the opaque backdrop. In my own opinion, I agree with Meade that this series of work entitled 'Activate’was more symbolic and an elegant progression of ideas.

For me, I can see my work involving aspects of painting practice again and not just representing my ideas through sculpture. By studying Meade’s style I can see how experimentation and use of the form can be a valid and ignorable asset.

“Turning people into paintings and painting on people in a pool of milk, you find the strange in the familiar. But to get this, you must look at what is below the surface, hiding in the shadows, looking beyond what has already been highlighted.” - Meade

Reviewed by Katie Varey,

11/1/2014

The video can be viewed at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMn2q35HBeQ