The SKIN and FLESH

SAM JINKS - artist

Sam Jinks

                                Women's Face II, 200835 x 25 x 25 cmmixed media

Sam Jinks
Women's Face II, 2008
35 x 25 x 25 cm
mixed media

Sam Jinks
Calcium divide (self portrait) 

2011 840cm x 600cm x 660cm mixed media

Sam Jinks
"woman and child."
silicone, silk, human hair. 2010

 Sam Jinks

Duo, 2008,

130 x 28 x 19 cmmixed media

 Sam Jinks

Duo, 2008

130 x 28 x 19 cmmixed media

Sam Jinks
Duo, 2008
130 x 28 x 19 cm
mixed media

Sam Jinks
Still Life (Pieta) 2007
silicon, paint & human hair
160.0 x 123.0 cm

There is two reasons why I became interested in Sam Jenkins work.

Number one is his recreation of human flesh through sculpture. I find it so interesting the accuracy of his bodies of work. It is through his reflection upon the surface of skin I draw Inspiration, the liberation of imperfection. It is through this imperfection that beauty can be found. It is the truthfulness in Jenkins work that transcends conventional interpretations of beauty, It is in the naturalness of the human form that you can find beauty in Jenkins works. This Idea of truthfulness is in essence part of the foundation to my work, my work is based around the female form and the truth in this form is something that can't be neglected. 

Number two is the mental connection Jenkins finds his works produces. In his studio he finds when people come in they seem to connect with the sculptures and through this they explain to him the similarities in which they find with the sculpture and in someone they know, a story is told about this person and a new dimension to Jenkins sculptures is established.  

It is not the physical appearance of these sculptures that inspire me but rather the EMOTIONS these sculptures create with an audience.

The work I'm producing this year is an attempt to test peoples emotions and tolerance to nudity/nakedness and the female form. I don't aim to shock people but rather to surprise them, I don't aim to create controversy though I feel this is inevitable. The notion of being naked/nude is something that frightens people due to a lack of understanding and its association to being VULNERABLE and uncivilised. I want to be able to produce a collection of pieces that challenge the idea of being naked/nude, through a personal interpretation of TRUTHFUL ELEGANCE.  

IONE RUCQUOI - mixed media artist

This particular Image is especially beautiful, the way the flesh hangs from the mannequin gives human like quality to the image, this also is helped by the inclusion of breasts. This image resonates a certain feminine eroticism of questionable taste. However gruesome this image may appear there is still an element of which drawn you in, there is a certain tinge of romanticism the naturalness of the suggested movement and calmness that sits upon the models faces eludes to a very modal atmospheric energy.  

This image I fond so interesting, It is through the hidden face and the exposed breast that within this simplicity there is a truth. I find this image completely un-erotic, its un-suggestive and doesn't allude to any form of sexual connotation. However I understand the personal interpretation of my words.

R A C H E L  F R E I R E - Fashion Designer

 Rachel Freire

AW/11/12

Rachel Freire

AW/11/12

Rachel Freire has a way of creating quite visually stunning garments and ornamentation but it is generally not until closer inspection you see the torturous nature of these garments. Visually scary and shocking, it is however in this indirect way that these garments are so beautiful, the fact that eminently the obvious is not so obvious. If you haven't noticed yet the small petals that make the flowers on these garments are actually cow nipples. 

These Images are from my last body of work "FLESH". These are two images of the same hand that has been painted with latex allowed to dry and peeled off the hand (the image below illustrates the peeling off of the latex glove).

What was partially beautiful about this hand is its rough textured surface and the accuracy in which the finger prints were captured, this juxtaposition of surfaces within the one piece is unique in the way it relates to the human flesh and its ability to vary so dramatically in appearance, whether it be from person to person or on the same individual. 

These images of hands and feet were also taken by me for my body of work "FLESH" it was an attempt to look at the surfaces of my own flesh as well as that of my friends. 

This idea of textured imperfect surfaces is what attracts me to the human flesh and what leads me on to the use of Natural leather which lends itself quite beautifully yet accurately to resemble human flesh. The natural leather has the ability to age as it is exposed to air and light causing it to discolour, wear and stiffen just as if it were the flesh.