Christian Houge continues his personal exploration of the beautiful and the brutal, the organic and the artificial. He has included the “Beuchene” – (exploding skull) to the “Evolution” series –  please enjoy the beautiful and brutal images and read his artist statement for more insight.

ARTIST STATEMENT

In ‘Evolution’ I explore subjects studied for thousands of years: Evolution and forms of nature, both in the sense of perfection and imperfections. To me, these photographs share the same heritage as the entomologists tedious study who systematized and categorized the many thousands of species in the world. This project aims at a contemporary reinterpretation of evolutionary study, keeping the parameters intrinsic to the medium of photography. The in depth book on human anatomical study made by Leonardo Da Vinci in the 1500 hundreds has inspired me deeply. Da Vincis study of osteology and myology was not only a secretive and groundbreaking work, it was also art. The biological works on jellyfish and other ancient marine animals of Ernst Haeckel and Albertus Seba were also important in my prestudies of this theme. Studying animals and humans in this way as part of science has a beauty in itself, although it can be seem bizarre at first glance, I think.

In parts of this exhibition, I explore the structure of evolution and natures perfect symmetry. The long and tedious process of systemizing and catogorizing the thousands of species, the classic entomologist is much of my core fascination.

An Italian art critic once wrote:

” Sunt quaedam formosa adeo,deformia si sint; Et tunc cun multum
displicuere, placent.” Celio Callagnini (d.1541)
” There is that which is beautiful because of its deformation, and thus
through the discomfort comforts” Celio Callagnini (d.1541)

In ‘Evolution’ I also search back to my first show in 1997, ‘Deformatia’, where beauty and natures deformations were the main themes. Here I explored how the beauty of deformations created discomfort, but also pleasure. The human `Beauchene` skull study is the latest series to be included in this project, and it creates a kind of cognitive dissonance. It reminds me of my own structure, as well as what we are slowly moving towards in life.

This contrast can be found in many areas of our perception. The idea and techniques I have used in ‘Evolution’ are full of contrast. The organic juxtaposed pop culture. The hard plastic materials juxtaposed the soft, archival cotton paper with seam, hand toning of paper, handwritten Latin texts and oilcolorations on canvas. Installations of photography in glass jars are also part of this neverending body of work. I will continue my personal exploration of the beautiful and the brutal, the organic and the artificial.

- christian houge

Link to Evolution series