Blogging Assignment #2

This most recent exhibition by Claire Rau captivated me. Each work had an idea behind it, but the ideas were not always so evident. The designs in the works seemed simple, but looking closer, you notice intricacy involved. They had detailed patterns within a simple outline. Also, all of the works had a somewhat dark intent. The majority of them involved weapons or a strange scenario, such as the noose, bear traps, the "Fatted Calf," a carving board, men tied to chairs, and the picture of an assortment of weapons, which also had a 3-dimensional display. This makes me wonder where the artist's mind was when constructing this exhibition.

The photo I took, located at the bottom of this composition, caught my eye over all other works. It has an elegant outline, almost like a fire, in the same color as the noose located in the center. However, this isn't all that made me want to look closer. There is a bold blue consuming the center between the outline and the noose, allowing the noose to call attention to observers. The noose is attached to the "firey" outline at the top center. I have drawn conclusions about this particular design.

Once conceptually analyzing this depiction, I feel as though I understand it better. Although it is often difficult to understand what the artist was thinking or feeling when making a piece, I gave it a shot. Morbid as it sounds, this image resembles feelings of depression or anxiety in my opinion. The noose is the main attraction and the design encircles the noose, closing it in. The bold blue separating the two makes it stand out even more. The fact that the noose is attached to the design could signify that feelings of depression or suicide may be led astray if you are feeling that way, but it can come back around to those thoughts yet again. The design may not relate to every person who sees and observes it, but it certainly holds meaning to the creator and possibly others.