7.12.11

Artist: Bryan Christiansen- Trophy Hunter

The idea of our ancestors being hunter gatherers, re-created in a modern urban context, is what inspired Bryan Christiansen to create his found object trophies.
As a fan of found object art, I appreciate the metamorphosis of an item. The more complex the transformation from its original state, the more it inspires the viewer.  
Christiansen takes discarded furniture and household items such as: mattress, couches and La-Z-Boy recliners and reconstructs them into mementos that a hunter might display.  
Essentially he skins a couch and pins the fabric creating an eerily similar effect to that of a skinned animal pelt.  


His deer and doe sculptures are made from mattresses and couches, a wink towards taxidermy.  They remind me of Jared Pankin's works- another artist who creates animal trophy art using synthetic materials.



Christiansen employs a careful and deliberate process when making his sculptural animals and wall- mounted pelts.  After 'hunting' for just the right piece of furniture, Christiansen returns to his studio where he proceeds to skin and gut the object as though it were a fresh kill.  In acknowledgment of Native American traditions [] Christiansen makes sure that nothing goes to waste, saving and bottling everything down to the last bit of sawdust and string. 

I like the idea of a modern day hunter gatherer. Fundamentally that is what a thrifter or vintage shopper is.  The main difference of course being that the average scavenger does not deconstruct their finds but often revers them.  

Are you a sidewalk scavenger? 
Do you have pieces of furniture in your home you've found? 

5 comments:

Mama Gone Green said...

funny stuff! and yes, i am totally a sidewalk scavenger!!

Jacqui said...

Interesting exhibition - there was one here recently based on objects found in derelict croft houses. xx

Pat Tillett said...

I am a sidewalk scavenger, but we have little room left for "new" things.
I'm always amazed about the things that people come up with and then turn it into art. Great post!

A Crimson Kiss said...

How fantastic!! I have a great uncle who loves his animal trophies, but these are so, so much better (and significantly less creepy)!

Mice Aliling said...

Yes, I am definitely a sidewalk scavenger!!! I use my finds for future art pieces or display. I have an old typewriter in my room which is on display. I want to actually make it work and use it.

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