OCA drawing 1.1

The aim of this exercise is to explore artists who place the figure in space in imaginative ways to alter, change, or skew the viewer’s perspective. Look for repeated motifs and patterns and each artist’s intention when considering the potential of placing the figure, or figures, in different spaces and timelines.
Research the work of: David Noonan, Michael Ditchburn, Pablo Bronstein, Charles Avery, Lubaina Himid, Erwin Wurm and Donna Huddleston. 

DONNA HUDDLESTON

Theatrical –  The figures are performing.  
Personal – They are a ‘stand in’ for a self portrait.
Props – Assist the permeance of the composition, supporting and giving structure.
Scale – To build the image.
Autobiographical – Creates a connection to the subject.  A necessary engagement for the artist.
Time – Working in coloured pencil provides a texture and a sense of time.  Each layer is gradually built up. 

Time is investment  
Memory is tangible
Process is meditative

DAVID NOONAN

Ambiguities – In between spaces.
Fragments.  How we see things.  How we remember things.  What we don’t understand.
Materials – behaviour and influence.  To create a form of visual harmony.
Platform – For self transformation, gesture.  
Misfits –  Exploring sub culture.
Boundaries – Extend the parameters by layering, cutting, collaging.
Stagecraft – Manipulating the existing space for a specific effect. 
Alchemy – amassing materials that appeal and relying on serendipity and coincidences to provide them.
Activate – Something is dormant and then another image activates it.
Process – It changes as society does, and material availability.
Agenda – something has to be unpacked to understand the work.

Transforming to harmonise
Manipulating to explore
Activate to create.

PABLO BRONSTEIN

Architectural – Places, performance, figures at site.
Desire – The artist has to want these things to exist.
Time – A present subject placed in the past.  Ruination.
Focus – The object, separating it from its environment.  Comparing it.
Duality – Creating a convincing reality, but actually inaccurate and theatrical.
Cathartic – Expunging anxieties, fears, panic, nightmares.

Manifesting
Expunging
Isolating
Chicanery

CHARLES AVERY

Emersion – Creating an imaginary world.
Central theme – A horizon line.
The Protagonist – Visiting and documents the subjects from an outsiders perspective.
Inspiration – Currency, philosophy, economics, anthropology, literature, comedy.

Narrating a world and creating souvenirs

LUBAINA HIMID

Audience – Centre stage and backstage.
Resources – Paints a history on found objects.
Flow – Things come at once and spill out.
Manoeuvre – Can move the installed subjects around.
Fixed – Not taking you to another place like a painting.
Dialogue – Transmergance of stories. 

History
Reality 
Personal experiences 
Narrated through a dialogue within the subjects

ERWIN WURM

Metamorphosis- Changing volume, changing content.
Abstraction – Using something recognisable to distort.  Distancing.
Purpose – Focusing on the notion of surface and it’s function.
Manipulate – Squeeze, flatten, reduce.

Access to reality through recognisable forms 
Form holding and defining volume 
Using abstraction to create distance between the artist, subject, and the viewer

List of Images

Cover Image Huddleston, D. (2024) It all goes awry with paint: Patagonia. [Acrylic on linen] At:https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/article/2024/sep/08/donna-huddleston-company-white-cube-masons-yard-review-liorah-tchiprout-i-love-the-flames-but-not-the-embers-pippy-houldsworth-gallery (Accessed 01.06.2025).

Fig.1 Huddleston, D. (2024) Company Exhibition View. At:https://www.whitecube.com/gallery-exhibitions/donna-huddleston-masons-yard-2024 (Accessed 01.06.2025).

Fig.2 Noonan, D. (2024) The Exile. [Liquid pigment on fabric] At:https://davidnoonan.art/exhibitions/selected-solo-exhibitions/david-noonan-sessions-arts-club-london-uk#show-11 (Accessed 01.06.2025).

Fig.3 Bronstein, P. (2017) Tea Urn On Legs. [Hard ground etching hand, coloured ink on paper] At:https://cristearoberts.com/artists/27-pablo-bronstein/works/78875-pablo-bronstein-tea-urn-on-legs-i-2017/ (Accessed 01.06.2025).

Fig.4 Avery, C. (2020) Untitled – City Wall Market. [Pencil, acrylic, ink on paper] At:https://www.frestoniangallery.com/artists/70-charles-avery/works/#/image_popup/artwork1470/ (Accessed 01.06.2025).

Fig.5 Himid, L. (2019) Six Tailors. At:https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/lubaina-himid (Accessed 01.06.2025).

Fig.6 Wurm, E. (2023) Dream Installation View. At:https://www.lehmannmaupin.com/exhibitions/erwin-wurm6/installation-views (Accessed 01.06.2025).

Bibliography

Studio International. (2022) Donna Huddleston – Interview: ‘I was thinking of all the works being a double for myself’.At:https://www.studiointernational.com/index.php/donna-huddleston-video-interview-in-person-simon-lee-gallery (Accessed 06.06.2025).

White Cube. (2024). Donna Huddleston Company.At:https://www.whitecube.com/gallery-exhibitions/donna-huddleston-masons-yard-2024 (Accessed 06.06.2025).

David Noonan. At:https://davidnoonan.art (Accessed 06.06.2025).

Museum Of Contemporary Art Australia. At:https://www.mca.com.au/collection/artists/david-noonan/ (Accessed 06.06.2025).

Tate: Who Is Pablo Bronstein. At:https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/pablo-bronstein-11761/who-is-pablo-bronstein (Accessed 06.06.2025).

Cristea Roberts Gallery: Pablo Bronstein. At:https://cristearoberts.com/artists/27-pablo-bronstein/ (Accessed 06.06.2025).

Grimm Gallery: Charles Avery. At:https://grimmgallery.com/artists/31-charles-avery/ (Accessed 06.06.2025).

Artsy: CHARLES AVERY. At:https://www.artsy.net/artist/charles-avery(Accessed 06.06.2025).

Tate Modern: Lubaina Himid. At:https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/lubaina-himid (Accessed 06.06.2025).

Royal Academy Of Arts: Lubaina Himid. At:https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/name/lubaina-himid-ra-elect(Accessed 06.06.2025).

Erwin Wurm. At:https://www.erwinwurm.com (Accessed 06.06.2025).

Erwin Wurm – Skins. At:https://ropac.net/online-exhibitions/72-erwin-wurm-skins/ (Accessed 06.06.2025).