Through the key concepts lectures as part of the Creative Studio module (TMA1431), Rowan Bailey introduced us to the concept of form, matter and meaning-making. Upon researching the final major project, I came across an artist called Samuel Baker. In a video on the BiOrb website, he talks through his creative practice and how the natural world and the texture of the materials around him inspire his sculptures that feature in the BiOrb product range. This video made me think about the notions of hylomorphism and morphogenesis.
In two past blog posts, I have reflected not only on these two concepts but also about my relation to the matter around me and how these influence my creative practice here and here. This video of Samuel Baker, however, led to further thought. If inspiration is taken from the natural world around us, for example, the bark of trees or the grain texture of sand, and if this is used to create, or more accurately mimic, the forms found in nature such as sea urchins and shells, is this practice based in hylomorphism or morphogenesis?
Is the concept of hylomorphism purely based on the notion of imposing new or unseen forms into the world? Or can these forms be those already found within the natural world? Does the concept of hylomorphism turn into morphogenesis when the use of the natural materials become further included to such a point that they are not only a texture to recreate or mimic but that also become part of the structure of the form and become part of the creative process in totality? For example, the bark or the sand mentioned in the earlier example becoming a structural or decorative part of the forms through some practice-based activity such as burning.
In the videos shared below, Samuel Baker can be seen exploring the natural world around him for inspiration and going to great lengths such as scuba diving to experience first hand the forms that he will recreate in his own practice and form creation. It would be interesting to see where Samuel stands on these notions of form and matter? Does creating forms such as coral influence his view? On the same hand, does this view change dependant on the subject/theme in question?
It stands to question, with the final major project being linked to the natural world along with the themes of extinction and the human effects of the natural world, how is my practice going forward through that project in particular sits within the concepts? Does the project being primarily digital from an output and deliverables point of view alter this? I found it interesting that the word 'morphogenesis' is also a cell development process within nature, an interesting crossover of the fields of science and the creative disciplines. I reflected on the crossover of these two fields of study on my Instagram account (link here) from term one where we explored this during a lecture for TMA1401.
References:
Bailey, R. University of Huddersfield. (2021, 12, 02). Week 4: Key Concepts - Form, Matter and Meaning Making / Or / Making Theoretical Friends
Video. https://brightspace.hud.ac.uk/d2l/le/content/134131/Home
Biorb. (n.d.) Unseen with Samuel Baker. [Video]. Biorb. https://youtu.be/E2vDYt_wKyA
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