Inspired by a water tower that I thought was a house when I was a kid. I really wanted to live in it, without realizing that I would drown if I tried.
Ben Kaller ArtsXpose
Ben Kaller Art21
I watched videos from around 12 artists total, all with vastly different approaches to art and varying styles. Some artists such as Hiwa K and Olafur Eliasson want viewers to make the meaning of their art themselves. Olafur’s works are large-scale and abstract, and often interactive. He knows everyone will see and feel something different and values that. Other artists such as Kerry James Marshall and Brian Jungen have a specific message they want to come across. Brian works with a variety of materials, such as newspaper and found objects, to create art that reveals discrimination against Native people in the US. I think one of the most interesting interviews was the one with Jeff Koons. He is one of the most well known sculptors in the world, and in the interview stated that he did not have any knowledge of art history before college. I think it is quite crazy that someone with little art background like Jeff Koons can overtake so many other lifelong artists in the public eye.
Kaller Project 2 Sketches
Ben Kaller AI
Talisman Ideation Ben Kaller
My absolutely number one goal in life is to be able to financially support my mom in the future. As a single mother she has done absolutely everything for me and my two siblings. She is truly the most caring and dedicated person I know, and has dealt with more terrible obstacles in her life than ever deserved. I want to be able to partially return the favor and be able to fulfill a dream of hers. One of her dreams is to live at her favorite place on the planet, Nantucket Island in Massachusetts.For me to make this happen for her I must be very successful in my occupation, which is easier said than done. Years ago we used to go to Nantucket before it became so expensive and popular. I want my object to reflect both my memories growing up and my gratitude to my mom. Some keywords are: beach, house, nantucket, memories, success, gratefulness, relaxation
ArtsExpose 1 + 2 Ben Kaller
Ben Kaller Sketches
My object is a ceramic chicken, which I believe is technically a rooster, that is designed for home decoration. It has a tag on the bottom stating that it is a sample from Tiwan and was created in 1982. The chicken is presumably designed to sit on a shelf as a decoration, which would bring a homey and farm-like vibe into a home. There is an idealistic view of farming in America, and many people who grew up on farms look back with nostalgia. The idea of a calm life on a farm may be appealing to those who live is busy cities. The chicken reminds me a lot of farming in general, and how unethical and brutal it has become. I want the chicken to represent the guilt I feel when I eat animals, as I am not vegan but I have considered it. I want to display a gruesome scene that is framed within a “normal” setting.
The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, Ben Kaller
Immediate Response: My immediate response to this work would be shock if I were to see it in person. The white box and divisions in the box intrigue me, as don’t believe those are necessary for the design. The shark is a tiger shark, which I’m pretty sure are in the pacific islands. They are quite large and seem to be in the middle of an attack. There might be a feeling of danger when standing near it.
Objective Description: The work is a large box filled with formaldehyde. In this box is a large tiger shark with its mouth open. The box is split with three splits, and the entire outside is painted white. Inside there are structs that are used to get the box from breaking. The shark is fully intact and preserved, there seems to be no scars. The box is of a large rectangle shape, with space around the shark on every side.
Technical Decisions: The construction is very industrial, which is at conflict with the natural essence of a living creature. Thick steel and glass surround the embalmed shark. The shark sits at eye level, so it very hard to miss. It seems very static, which is obvious as the shark is dead. There isn’t a lot of showmanship, it is simply a dead shark in a tank.
The Work in the World: This work closely relates to aquariums, and how we have live sharks in sometimes very small tanks. Also the fact that he uses a real shark instead of a fake one is very interesting. It very much relates with death and the dead. The use of very industrial metals clash with the natural that is a shark.
The Story it Tells:
The name of the piece is The Physical Impossibility of Death int he Mind of Someone Living, so clearly Damien Hirst wants us to think of death in general. The shark, a creature usually perceived as violent and angry, is utterly still in the solution. He fires us to confront the fact of death. Death is inevitable, and eventually we will be as still and lifeless as the shark.