Nathalie Djurberg's 'Claymations' - Week 1 Blog

1. What do you understand by the word 'claymation'?

Claymation is the use of clay and stop-motion animation to create a short film which usually portrays a short story or narrative. In each frame the models are moved by the creator to create the illusion of motion.

2. What is meant by the term 'surrealistic Garden of Eden'? and 'all that is natural goes awry'?

 

All of Djurberg's films display a kind of fantastic peace and harmony during the open scenes. Everything seems like it will have a happy ending; a 'surrealistic Garden of Eden'. A garden so perfect that it cannot possibly be real, something that could only exist within the human imagination. When 'all that is natural goes awry' Djurberg adds some kind of horrible turning point to disturb and horrify the viewer. Something that goes from something similar to a folklore tale to "a scary x-rated fantasy without any moral" - (http://artnews.org/artist.php?i=1211, Helle Ryberg, curator, 2005)

3. What are the 'complexity of emotions' that Djurberg confronts us with?

"Moving beyond general ideas of right and wrong, she taps into human impulses that can't be reasoned away, with victims and predators both shedding tears and swapping roles as the violent, sexual antics play out on a curiously even keel." 

- (Skye Sherwin, www.guardian.co.uk, Thursday 25 August, 2011)


4. How does Djurberg play with the ideas of children's stories, and innocence in some of her work?

In many of Djurberg's works, the story begins with an innocent child (or a naughty one) doing some kind of childish activity. This sets up a certain naivety  for the viewer, luring them back to their childhood and looking for a moral to the story. Another character is then introduced, whether it be the good guy, the bad guy, or a handy helper. They can be man or beast. Again this plays on the viewers sense of interest, they want to know which fairytale is going to play out and which one they can relate to. This opens them up to the emotions linked with those childhood memories. Once the sick and twisted turn of events take place, all those childhood memories are perverted and distorted.

5. There is a current fascination by some designers with turning the innocent and sweet into something disturbing. Why do you think this has come about?