Surrealism Artist Research 1

Artist Research

Meret Oppenheim - 1936 

Content:

I would describe this piece as strange and unusual, as it abnormal to have a furry cup and saucer. The subject is imagined, as it isn’t common to have fur on these items as it renders them useless. I think Oppenheim has worked from the psychologists’ idea of ‘the uncanny’ and tried to achieve something against what is natural / the norm. Aspects of this sculpture are very clearly exaggerated, which give a very uneasy and peculiar look to it.

Formal Elements:

The artist has composed this sculpture in a way that makes the audience feel strange, it gives off an uneasy vibe and its overall unpleasant. The way the sculpture has been arranged with the fur inside the cup, spoon and saucer make it so that the objects no longer have a purpose. The piece is natural coloured, which makes the audience think of animal fur, which then also adds to the discomfort the piece causes. Oppenheim’s piece, although it isn’t comfortable, is harmonious as the fur is all directional and smooth and there are no harsh contrasts of colours in the sculpture and the lighting shows all the little details. The overall dominant colour is cream and a little brown, all the colours are quite natural to animal fur. The direction of the fur recurs and all flows in the same direction as much as possible and gives a smooth texture to the piece.

Process:

Oppenheim’s sculpture was made using animal fur and a spoon, cup and saucer. It has been composed by gluing fur all over the separate pieces. First, the artist would have bought a cup and saucer and found animal fur, seeming to match the colour slightly and glued the fur to the pieces. I think that the work would’ve been made quickly as it isn’t a very complexed piece and only contained 2/3 things. The idea came along from a conversation that Oppenheim had where it was said that fur could go on anything.

Mood / Meaning:

The sculpture gives the audience an uneasy feeling and makes them uncomfortable in its presence. The purpose of this piece is to expand and work with Marcel Duchamp’s idea of the “readymade”, however, it is also around the time when the suffragettes won the vote and began to become more equal, which meant that Oppenheim’s work had a bigger chance of being recognised. The piece leaves a lasting impression due to the fact that it isn’t something you could forget as it is very abnormal. As the viewer the sculpture makes me feel unsettled and distressed. The sexual connotations behind this piece also give an unsettling feeling as it isn’t something that was socially accepted to discuss at the time.

Influence:

Meret Oppenheim’s work relates to women’s independence, as at the time, the suffragettes had gotten the vote and were on the path to becoming more equal, this allowed Oppenheim to get her art out there and show her art with more freedom. Some people would have been disgusted by this piece because it is so strange and unnatural. This relates to the brief and surrealism as it is highly ‘uncanny’. It can easily be recognisable as a surrealist piece as it is far from ordinary. It could be described as “pure psychic automatism” – Andre Breton, Surrealist Manifesto 1924.

To recreate this piece I would use fur or feathers, some kind of animal material and an everyday found object and recreate the same image.