Is it Art Or an Environmental Statement?
by Bonnie Alter, London on 09. 5.06
Is it Art or an Environmental Statement? That’s what this Treehugger asked the artist, Graham Hudson, who has built a studio and out-buildings in the courtyard of the Chelsea College of Art and Design. Supported by a Foundation grant, the artist has spent the last 6 months constructing his ramshackle home, living there throughout the whole process and holding arty events on the site. The central building, his studio-residence, is a construction of timber off-cuts, discarded window frames, cardboard, carpet, and old furniture. His materials come from the streets, skips, toy-shops, e-bay, and donations. A junkyard, cordoned off in the interests of Health and Safety, is Hudson's own store-- housing umbrellas, wood, plastics, and discarded children's toys. This is recycling in its simplest form: using refuse to build something new.
He has created a public square, with sculpture, chairs, tables, play areas for children and invited the public to become involved in his art and life. So is it an environmental statement? It didn’t start out as that but it has become one because of its nature. It’s about consumerism, our throw-away society, homelessness, property values (it has a river view and a fashionable address) and the definition of art (it’s across the road from the Tate Britain Art Gallery). At the end, the work will be auctioned off and given away. :: Graham Hudson
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I suspect many people will see this somewhat the way I see it. If this structure helps to heal the planet, then it is inspiring because what it does is inspiring. If, however, one is primarily concerned about something else, then they will say it is junk. I do believe quite a few people living near this structure would call it junk - particularly if it is the primary view out of their window.
Amazing creativity. More people should follow his example and support him enthusiastically.
Although reuse is fantastic, the main structure and surrounding environment are just not aesthetically appealing. This seems to be the case with many "junk" creations - the discarded objects have not been sufficiently transformed to instigate a response other than "look at those piles of trash".
Recycling is green, sure. I hope the artist feels that way this winter when things seem a bit "white" and frigid. The cost of heating his unrefined structure will be enormous.