By:
Roxanne Gayle
Get in the mood for Valentine’s Day by spending an arousing evening at K Space Art Studios when the 3rd annual Erotica exhibition opens on Saturday, February 11. The opening of Erotica 2006 will take place from 7 to 10pm at K Space Art Studios, 415 D Starr St. Live sultry sax and acoustic guitar will be performed by Sapphire, a husband and wife duo from Elgin,TX. This year, the Erotica has grown internationally to include entries from artistsin Poland, the Philippinesand Puerto Rico.If you’ve enjoyed the past two years or you missed out, make the effort to see this juried exhibition of erotic art because a new theme will be introduced next year.
Jurors for the Erotica 2006 exhibition are Rachel Koper and Wally Workman. Koper is director of Gallery Lombardi in Austin. She has hosted 5 Erotica exhibitions at Gallery Lombardi and as an artist, has experience working with live nude models. Wally Workman is the owner and director of Wally Workman Gallery in Austin. For 25 years, she has hosted hundreds of exhibitions at her own gallery. K Space Erotica 2006 is the first erotic art exhibit that she has juried. Both judges feel that it is important for the community to attend art exhibitions such as Erotica.
“I think it is important to attend/support all art productions, Erotica will just be a little different,” said Workman.
“I think fine art shows like Erotica actually serve communities by reclaiming the topic from the media's omnipresent practice of using sexy photos and story to sell things,” said Koper.
Yes, she said reclaiming. Contrary to popular belief, eroticism was once embraced and even celebrated.
“The subject is as old as world, eroticism was appreciated by ancient cultures. I believe that this area (erotica) should be practiced as well as other subjects,” said Tomasz Domanski, artist of “Erotic Drawing #1,” Erotica 2006 Best of Show. “In the art works breaking barriers of stereotype, thinking does not relate to the subject it is rather about experimenting with idea and role of artinour lives.”
“Presented works were made aftermy study in India; I was influenced by sacred placesofKhajuraho, Konark and a wooden Nepal temple in Bhaktapur. In those images of sexuality, itisleverage to the religious ecstasy, full of sophisticated passion,” said Domanski. “In my drawings, Irefer rather to this eastern matter. In our hectic lives, it is worth affording time forlove, for relaxing.”
An artist from Poland who represents the event’s newfound international reach, Domanski’s artwork has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across Europe, in Korea, China, and India, as well as in the U.S. and Canada. Domanski cites inspiration from “masterpieces in erotica” by artists Egon Schiele, Joseph Beuys, and Auguste Rodin’s lesser known drawings of female nudes, “perfectly showing the softness and coziness of a body.”
In regards to his medium, he looks to Italian transvanguardia artist Francesco Clemente, “whose watercolors are lead by unique intuition.” Domanski’s winning piece of artwork consists of six panels, each with different basic line drawings and practiced use of watercolor.
“In drawing, there is a space formeanings between the lines, the lines being not finished underline lightnessand dynamics of composition, colors refer tothe atmosphere between partners,” said Domanski. “The medium is subtle, yet it is used to destroy static and stability - the virtues which are not associated with passion. And the subject is just about passionate feelings. Most of the erotica I drew isnot free from the representations of loneliness and disappointment of love, but at the same time,there are figures with positive relation to each other enjoying intimacy.”
------
FYI lifestyle . arts . entertainmentP.O. Box 3008Corpus Christi, Texas78404
Hello Raxanne,
Thank you for writing to me. Below I am trying to reply to your questions. I am affraid that the language may be a problem so please ask if I am not clear with what I am saying and if it is possible, please correct it.
Why did you choose this particular medium for this artwork?
Drawing a a base for honest and quick communicate. In Drawing there is a space for between lines meanings, the lines being not finished underline lightness and dynamics of coposition, colours refers to the atmosphere between partners. The medium is subtale, yet it is used to destroy static and stability - the vartues which are not associated with passion. And the and the subject is just about passionate feelings.
How does your artwork represent the theme Erotica?
Most of erotics I drew are not free from the representations of lonlyness and love desapointment, but at the same time there are figures with positive relation to each other and enyoing intimacy.
What do you hope to communicate with your Erotica artwork?
Presented works were made after my study in India, I was influenced by sacred places of Khadżuraho, Konarak and wooden Nepal temple in Bhaktapur. In those images of sexuality is laverege to the relogious extasy, full of sofisticated passion. On my drawings I refer rather to this eastern matter. In our hectic lives it is worth to afford time for love, for relax.
Do you primarily create erotic art?
No. Since 1992 I have been created the cycle /the Monuments of Time/. Ephemeral forms emanate some condensed energy. I use ice, sound, fire in a composition to show the process of installation, creation may come prior to the final form. Beside ephemeral objects I look for materials which could be adapted to a work, innumerable suggestions that arise during spontaneous penetration of environment and urban areas. Often the examples of contradicted pairs; the organic forms taken from the natural conditions and theirs geometrical equivalents are in focus. The additional value of works comes together with the participation of the audience, therefore I often invite people to be participative and encourage taking part in the art process or even becoming a necessary part of an open sculpture.
Why do you feel it is important for art enthusiasts consider Erotica?
The subject is as old as world, erotism was appreciated by ancient cultures. I belive, that this area (erotics) shoud be practised as well as other subjects. In the art woks breaking barriers of steretype thinking does not relate to the subject is is rather about experimenting with idea and role of art in our lives. I would like to give examples of masterpices in erotics. The first place takes Egon Schiele - the true master of minature intimacy. Less known drawings cycle of women nudes by August Rodin, perfectly showing the softness and cosiness of a body. The art works of great german artist Joseph Beuys include unbelievably reach drawing heritage and erotics are amongs them. And Italian transavanguard artist Francesco Clemente whose water colours are lead by unique intuition.
Thank you
greetings from Poland
Tomasz Domanski