Sunday, November 3, 2013

Unleashing The Inner Beast Through Scrap Metal

Recycled motorcycle and auto parts or the beast within?
There are a plethora of things that I find inspiration in, but none more so than seeing others creativity. It could come from a wide array of music, illustrators, craftsmen, designers, etc. and the list goes on and on. But what I am most intrigued by is the human spirit. 

Looking back on the great age of the Renaissance for creativity and viewing where we are now, it is quite amazing to see the varying styles and approach. One of the biggest changes I have noticed across the centuries, through research and comprehension, is the slow focus towards the inner complexity of the human condition revealed through new works of artistic approach. 

In the past, vast works of art were created to interpret the word of God as evoked to humanity through verse and spirit reflected in tomes, art and oration. The greatness of someone such as Michelangelo would be in his representation of historic figures in a context to engage discussion and illuminate stories about the ethereal. A plethora of artists working today are borrowing from elements created in the past and assembling them into new visages and meaning, yet retaining their original form.

It could be old paper, scrap wood, audio samples and in the case of Robert Jefferson Travis Pond, his assemblages include motorcycle parts, old gears, metal parts and other found hardware. His sculptural work brings life to what was once an organic substance, yet through fire and foundry work it was forged into an entirely different amalgamation. His process and works seem to lend themselves perfectly to the larger workings of the human mind amidst the chaos of imagery that we are bombarded with daily. 

These inner beasts are coming to life from a variety of scrap material, but in a way are absolutely reflective of the inner musculature and skeletal systems of the animals they represent. Seeing is believing and interpreting work such as a this, gives me hope that creativity will continue to evolve in a way in which we continue to question all that is around us.

These images and others can be found on This Is Colossal