 With many thanks to art historian Dr Joshua Gong, Research director at Unicorn Publishing |
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In this series ‘Restoration’ – I ‘restore’ images of damaged classical sculptures by painting in the missing bits – the arms, legs and noses - well, my imaginings of the missing bits, not the actual ones perhaps! Among the restored figures are those of a dancing Maenad, a Kore and a Tang dynasty sculpture of a woman while I have ‘dressed’ the photographs of young girls, one doing a cartwheel, the other shouting for joy, in gold – for they are treasures.
The ‘restored’ images are placed in a classical setting inspired by Ancient Greece and each canvas features an island - Ithaca – the metaphor for home and journey’s end. The birds flying across the canvasses are native to Greece and feature in its iconography both actual and mythological, they include owls (the symbol of Athens and the goddess Athena), peregrine falcons, seagulls, nightingales.
Why the juxtaposition? For years I have continually used images of birds in my artwork for all kinds of reasons. Firstly, an emotional and poetic identification with the desire for freedom and the new perspectives which flight of all kinds offers. Secondly, because the symbolism of birds flying across the globe without borders parallels my ongoing focus on the continuous movement of peoples, cultures and ideas since the beginning of humanity. Finally, the idea of repairing the damage done to birdlife everywhere, the restoration of the environment - mirrors the idea that restoring culture, repairing the gaps in conventional history as well as culture can lead to a healthier human ecology.
Researching the bird life of Greece and species decline due to environmental degradation – the impact of humanity on nature, has been eye-opening. There are valuable initiatives making a difference in monitoring and stopping further decline - reintroducing species which have died out such as: Balkan Anti-Poisoning Project, Hellenic Ornithological Society’s LIFE ElClimA Project, Vulture Conservation Society’s Energy Infrastructure Project, among others.
In seeking to restore the historical iconography of women, to give those images agency, in a sense, I believe this is a powerful way to counteract the intense sexism and sidelining that women face across all cultures. It is a way to reintroduce their histories, to restore their cultural contributions, to celebrate other perspectives that women have of themselves and their place in the world.
This is what has motivated me to ‘restore’ those classical sculptures which were defaced by Christian vandals, as they sought to supplant and destroy the cultures that had gone before them. Hence, all those sculptures with noses, ears cut off - I had never realised the extent of the destruction until I read Catherine Nixey’s book ‘The Darkening Age’ and now I’m on a mission!
The ‘restored’ images are placed in a classical setting inspired by Ancient Greece and each canvas features an island - Ithaca – the metaphor for home and journey’s end. The birds flying across the canvasses are native to Greece and feature in its iconography both actual and mythological, they include owls (the symbol of Athens and the goddess Athena), peregrine falcons, seagulls, nightingales.
Why the juxtaposition? For years I have continually used images of birds in my artwork for all kinds of reasons. Firstly, an emotional and poetic identification with the desire for freedom and the new perspectives which flight of all kinds offers. Secondly, because the symbolism of birds flying across the globe without borders parallels my ongoing focus on the continuous movement of peoples, cultures and ideas since the beginning of humanity. Finally, the idea of repairing the damage done to birdlife everywhere, the restoration of the environment - mirrors the idea that restoring culture, repairing the gaps in conventional history as well as culture can lead to a healthier human ecology.
Researching the bird life of Greece and species decline due to environmental degradation – the impact of humanity on nature, has been eye-opening. There are valuable initiatives making a difference in monitoring and stopping further decline - reintroducing species which have died out such as: Balkan Anti-Poisoning Project, Hellenic Ornithological Society’s LIFE ElClimA Project, Vulture Conservation Society’s Energy Infrastructure Project, among others.
In seeking to restore the historical iconography of women, to give those images agency, in a sense, I believe this is a powerful way to counteract the intense sexism and sidelining that women face across all cultures. It is a way to reintroduce their histories, to restore their cultural contributions, to celebrate other perspectives that women have of themselves and their place in the world.
This is what has motivated me to ‘restore’ those classical sculptures which were defaced by Christian vandals, as they sought to supplant and destroy the cultures that had gone before them. Hence, all those sculptures with noses, ears cut off - I had never realised the extent of the destruction until I read Catherine Nixey’s book ‘The Darkening Age’ and now I’m on a mission!
A couple of months ago I started my series ‘Shouldering the Forest’ which challenges the way women are excluded and marginalised in virtually every aspect of society and the work draws on statistical graphs and highly detailed painting and collage. The series is inspired by a quip from an older white privileged English male creative who advised that I shouldn’t let people think I had a chip on my shoulder about being a woman artist from a working class Irish background!
Anyway, this first painting collage looks at the statistics of maternal mortality during and after childbirth. This is an issue close to my heart having come close to death myself during a late miscarriage and witnessing my daughter's health complications during childbirth. The stratified landscape through the window is made up of the causes of maternal mortality - haemorrhage & maternal infections among the most significant. Historically this was also the case. Although the numbers are much lower this century than in previous times, there has been a significant rise in maternal mortality in the UK since 2021.
Each case of maternal mortality will have catastrophic impact on their families and in turn impacts on our wider society.
Anyway, this first painting collage looks at the statistics of maternal mortality during and after childbirth. This is an issue close to my heart having come close to death myself during a late miscarriage and witnessing my daughter's health complications during childbirth. The stratified landscape through the window is made up of the causes of maternal mortality - haemorrhage & maternal infections among the most significant. Historically this was also the case. Although the numbers are much lower this century than in previous times, there has been a significant rise in maternal mortality in the UK since 2021.
Each case of maternal mortality will have catastrophic impact on their families and in turn impacts on our wider society.
Crossing Over # 1, 2 & 3 have been selected for 'The Path' Exhibition at Palazzo Pisani-Rivedin during the Venice Biennale 2024. The show opens on 3 September and runs until 3 November. I will be present at the Opening event on 3 September. If you would like to attend please contact me and I will make sure you get an invitation!
Fion Gunn - Sunrise to Sunset, 2023, papers, acrylic, collage, thread, 102 x 66cm
This is one of the artworks I'm taking to Egypt in February/March when my work will be presented there. At a time when so many people around the globe are trying to escape conflict and poverty I want to keep telling the story of how human beings have always migrated and moved around the world. Birds have no borders but nature itself - maybe we should be think about that and be more accepting and welcoming of migration generally.
This is one of the artworks I'm taking to Egypt in February/March when my work will be presented there. At a time when so many people around the globe are trying to escape conflict and poverty I want to keep telling the story of how human beings have always migrated and moved around the world. Birds have no borders but nature itself - maybe we should be think about that and be more accepting and welcoming of migration generally.
The Hidden City # 2, 2023 acrylic, handmade paper, collage, gold leaf, 78x56cm
I made this artwork as a woman living in London and thinking about women all over the world, our shared and our differing experiences: the doors that open for us and those that shut us out, the windows we look through to imagine our place in the wider world. I have included quotations from writers - Toni Morrison, Eavan Boland and Emily Dickinson as a tribute to the light they shed on our hidden city and the impact their writing has had on me. I still “dwell in possibility”
I made this artwork as a woman living in London and thinking about women all over the world, our shared and our differing experiences: the doors that open for us and those that shut us out, the windows we look through to imagine our place in the wider world. I have included quotations from writers - Toni Morrison, Eavan Boland and Emily Dickinson as a tribute to the light they shed on our hidden city and the impact their writing has had on me. I still “dwell in possibility”
I created this short film to commemorate the baby I lost in 1994.
It is my way to accept grief and transform it, a visual poem about lost potentials. Loss & Gain has been made during my residency at the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool 2022-23. It is a digital collage which combines film created in VR with film by the artist along with overlays, footage & 3D models from other sources.
When I presented the film at University of Liverpool on 1 December I did so in the context of a workshop about how art and the rituals we create can help us to accept grief and loss. It was a meaningful event and I am very grateful for the responses of all those who attended. I hope that what we shared will impact us all positively as we continue in our lives.
It is my way to accept grief and transform it, a visual poem about lost potentials. Loss & Gain has been made during my residency at the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool 2022-23. It is a digital collage which combines film created in VR with film by the artist along with overlays, footage & 3D models from other sources.
When I presented the film at University of Liverpool on 1 December I did so in the context of a workshop about how art and the rituals we create can help us to accept grief and loss. It was a meaningful event and I am very grateful for the responses of all those who attended. I hope that what we shared will impact us all positively as we continue in our lives.
Author
Fion Gunn is a London based visual artist with an international multi-media practice.
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