Tinbergen's 4 Question's: The 5 W's?

Tinbergen's Four Question's are the categories used to explain the behavior in animals. Named after Nikolaas Tinbergen. 

This title was used for our current exhibition as a way to reference how artist's portray animals in their work. There is a lot of baggage that comes with representing animals in artwork and you can see these issues being dissected and expressed in each individual's expression. The term animal was meant to be taken conceptually or literally. I mean, what is animal?

          Alexa Guariglia jokingly asked me while painting in Cavity.Lab a night before the show, "Is a bug an animal?"

 Humans are animals, bugs are animals, fish, pets, wild animals, behavior is animal....art making is animal. The work in the show is about animals portraying animal. The 4 questions Nikolaas Tinbergen once asked remain the basis of our psychological understanding of animals. However, this exhibition proves that they do not exist as the only explanation. Each artist's own theories are conveyed from their approach to process to their final representation. 

A more complete series of photos from this exhibition can be seen if you click the "Art for Sale" tab or follow this link: Tinbergen's 4?'s Art for Sale

Catalina Viejo

I would describe Catalina as a figure painter, but not your average figure painter. When you observe and examine her figures you can't help but notice that she see's the figure but in a unique way. The person or animal exists within the composition they are placed without making the figure the sole concentration. However, her painterly attention to the animal or figure stands out against it's surroundings. Although she has placed these figures in an environment, its not about giving the figure a habitat- but more about how the environment could not exist without these figures. 

This same concept exists within her more abstract work. As the figure makes an appearance in an environment that can not be recognized as reality, the viewer cant help but notice that the imagined space dwells on the the figure's literal or conceptual existence within. 

However, when Catalina's figures exist alone without a stage the environment is then created within the contour of the figure.  This environment is created by expression and enhanced by medium and color. The figure portrayed is radiant with personality through the beautiful abstractions within its boundaries. Its not the lines, hints or literal shapes that form her figures but the paint itself that embodies the persona. If all clues were removed the viewer would still experience the work with an emotion that is unique to Catalina's perception and understanding of the subject's existence in reality and it's relation to her. A perfect example is Catalina's famous miniature paintings of the Celtic's players. We do not know these basketball players but we examine their behavior on the court and that becomes our source of persona. Catalina can capture both the fame and the obscure, forming a facet of the player's identity that exists but goes unnoticed until manifested by Catalina's noteworthy awareness of life. 

OKTO

First and foremost OKTO must be noted as an infamous Boston graffiti writer however, he has began to develop a more refined persona evident in his fine art.  OKTO became a candidate for this exhibition when we observed his repetitive portrayal of the octopus and as well as his more recent work where illustrative interactions between animal-like forms are painted into conceptual story lines. 
As the concept of the exhibition began to develop, so did our understanding of OKTO and his relationship to his work. 

It is evident that OKTO's main influence is what he has learned technically, visually, and ideally through years of writing graffiti. As a graffiti writer, a constant battle lies within the ego as an obsession develops over ones self, ones name and ones domain creating a direct association with the behavior of a canine. Dogs, especially males- instinctually show dominance, establish territory and defend their possessions much like a person immersed in today's graffiti culture. After years of subconsciously practicing the canine instinct, one can not help but to develop dog like behavior. Just like the dog, aggressiveness fades with time and age but the dominant ego that has developed still exists within the human brain. OKTO has successfully applied his dog like instincts into creating work that always dominates in the gallery. His puzzling imagery, interesting color and apparent patterns prove that his ego now exists within the work, satisfying his urge to  prove ones self through proper representation. The impeccable craftsmanship of each piece-his hand made wooden panel boxes and the perfect application of medium proves that OKTO is very serious about his process as well as the physical and conceptual aspects of his final product. 

This leads me to believe that OKTO is the perfect example of the theories and behaviors practiced in graffiti culture having a positive influence on the development of a certain artistic expertise and a perception of the world that could not be achieved with out the experience. OKTO successfully proves that not only is there a future for graffiti to be defined as a formal art form, but that the concepts that lie within the culture will be dissected and the theories will be applied to the teaching and the understanding making art in contemporary society. Making him "leader of the pack" in the art scene of today. 

Alexa Guariglia

Alexa Guariglia, only 20 years old, is one of the most intriguing artists I know.   Her work is breathtaking and speaks for itself but the complexity of her personality and its blatant attendance in each and every stroke allows the work to exist more then just a piece of art, even to the untrained eye. I have never met a person with more oppositional tendencies and behavior. Interestingly enough, the opposition forms a perfect balance and allows Alexa to examine  and experience the world from 2 drastically different, but morally valid perspectives. Though in conversation it may seem that Alexa appears indecisive, it is in her work that you see seamless resolution and a deep seated commitment that is impossible to ignore.

 Alexa creates work that is figurative, work that is abstract and work that is both. Mostly in ink and paper, Alexa deals with literal and conceptual human representation with animal like forms and metaphorical object. Her work describes an animal instinct that lies within all humans.  Alexa has the gift of making a mark and bringing it to life. 

You would look at her work  and the strength would make you think that every move and mark is planned, but it isn't until you watch her work that you understand that Alexa's process is a natural, immediate, animal response to her current lifestyle, emotions and state of mind. Alexa has a gift that could not be taught in class or mimicked. Her work and process is so true to herself that words couldn't do a better job describing her rare ability to communicate honesty visually. 

Joshua Durant

Ever since I met Josh, about 5 years ago now- he has painted birds. With such a deep commitment to his subject, I imagine he has developed his own questions to explain the behavioral patterns of birds that theoretically Tinbergen couldn't touch. I have seen Josh use a variety of mediums to paint with, but most recently he has been doing simple but perfect renditions of birds with gauche on paper.

 At first glance, you could mistake the paintings to be bird portraits by an artist who has a gift for realism. As you look closer at the paintings, you can begin to understand Josh's complex understanding of the bird form, shape, color, stance, pattern and existence. The flawless paintings capture the feeling and image of that bird landing right in front you and quickly flying away.

 Josh's work allows you to experience the bird rather than examine it, without allowing you to forget about the paint and the hand with tasteful expression added within. 

Liz Lemon

Liz is a multi-faceted artist that can use a variety of mediums while maintaining the ability to smack the viewer in the face. I would credit her color use with majority of the punch. However, she also creates work absent of color that is comparably bold due to her understanding of composition and pleasing the eye. Unfortunately Boston has lost Liz, but her presence is still felt in the Boston art scene all the way from Milwaukee. 

The 5 prints Liz sent to us are from a series called "Octopus Garden". In this series, Liz digitally creates perfect paintings with a variation of color, composition, concentration, and abstraction. All of the images have a similar design element that holds the series together beautifully but each piece would have no issue existing on its own. I consider her series a study of the octopus based on the complex variations of positions, views and gestures- although, the strength of the images lies within the color use making the octopus the secondary concentration which allows the octopus to exists more as design element rather than an animal. 

Meaning, You do not have to LOVE octopi to enjoy these prints. Liz stunned viewers by invading their imagination and portraying the octopus in a deep sea environment that they could visualize as being an intangible reality. The variety in prints allowed everyone to be able to pick a favorite. A crowd pleaser!

Percy Fortini-Wright

Percy 14eWright knows how to paint. No matter where his paintings are they always seems to impress and satisfy everyone in some way or another because you can not deny how talented he truly is. His bold strokes and varied techniques remind me of a modern day John Singer Sargent. When you stand at a distance the painting maintains a crisp image. As you approach the painting it takes a different form, where the image is forgotten and the paint is the subject. 

The work is clearly influenced by the art of graffiti in both his hand and urban imagery. With perfect can control, Percy tastefully uses spray paint through out the pieces to make forms or create effects. All of his paintings are done on wood a mounted to a frame. The pieces in this exhibit are mostly very large but the much smaller works are equally as impressive. 

Originally, Percy was invited to participate in this exhibition because of his interesting portrayal of the human form but he submitted work that was inclusive of animals, humans, graffiti, the wild and the urban. These hybrid works are hyper expressive with realistic elements combined to form a fantasy environment for your modern day urbanite. 

Katie Brockway

Katie Brockway uses the figure or landscape and her main focus for most of her paintings. Her work really stood out in this exhibition because of lack of "HEY LOOK AT ME" that the other works seems to manifest. Katie allows her figures to exist the way her hand paints them with a palate that she chooses using many of the formal elements of painting with a stylized twist.

 When Katie paired up with Phil Musen in collaboration they created oil paintings that appeared as if only one person had done them. However, Katie and Phil both have different styles and color use that apparently complement each other perfectly. It is really unbelievable that 2 people, on a small canvas, with many layers, could make a successful oil painting in one session without becoming completely muddy. Katie and Phil then became "Seashell Robbins and Todd the Fox": the collaboration painting duo. 

Dressed up in character, Seashell and Todd made a movie of them painting to the song "Animals" by Talking Heads. The video was on display at the opening and was complimented by the mysterious and intriguing collaboration painting hung on the wall. 




50% of Donations are being given to The Animal Rescue League Of Boston
Please Join us for our closing reception/BBQ on June 18th from 1-6pm @ Cavity.Lab
with feather extensions by Kay*Jee Feather Designs
-or-
Email Cavity.Lab@gmail.com for a private showing