Asta Groting

Henry Moore Institute

"....Emerged in the mid 1980's and gained immediate acclaim for her take on the human body and the human condition. Groting shows us the things that can't normally be seen and perhaps those which we don't want to see. The body has provided a rich source of inspiration for Groting, rendered by her the physical is inextricably bound to the psychological so that the form and function of the human body reflect its mechanics, but are also affected by thought and feeling. Perhaps suggesting there is a formula to existence.Groting seems more concerned with the key aspects of existence such as earth, food, fire and sex."

I enjoyed l0oking at how Groting had translated body actions and movements into mechanisms such as in 'Ja and Nein' (Yes and No) painted iron and mechanical drives alternate the 2 circular structures representing the head movements yes and no. The materials Groting uses are plastic pearls, nylon string, bronze, polyester, glass, soil, silicon and epoxy resin. It was intriguing looking at the variety of materials used in the exhibition to represent the key aspects of existence.

In an interview she was asked how she conveys ideas and stories to the viewer, in which she replies... " I can only hope that my work touches on and communicates what I tried to put into it. A work must also make sense without anyone knowing they story behind it or it's title or without it having to be standing in the perfect place."

I think as an artist one of the hardest things is trying to convey ideas to an audience, using subtle clues to suggest messages to the viewer. However an artist has no control over the audiences reaction to work which is something any artist has to accept.