Janine Antoni

Janine Antoni is a very unique artist. During a few of the interviews we've seen during class, she has described her creative process as her seeing something that interests her, learning and mastering the technique, and finally making a sculpture or performance in response to that. What i really appreciate about her as an artist is how she doesn't seem to recognize that she has limits. If she sees something that she likes, she goes out and does it without question of her capabilities. The cool thing about the few pieces seen in class is how related they are to each other. She was almost telling a story of how she learned to do this through her end product. I also really like how she incorporates pieces of her life into her works. It makes the work that much more personal.

"Moor". 2001 Janine Antoni

This piece was a response to her wanting to learn how to make rope. Therefore, she went out and learned how. The piece is a long rope made out of a variety of different patterned and textured cloth, as well as many other random materials specific to her. She also made the piece really personal and specific to her by adding in materials from her life such as her old clothes or donations from people she knew. Not only is the piece very special in that no one could make one exactly like her's, but it is also remarkably well done considering that this is one of her first attempts to make a rope out of anything. 

"Touch". 2002 Janine Antoni

This is a theatrical piece that was performed in response to her learning to walk a tightrope which was in response to her learning to make a rope. The purpose of the piece was to illustrate a desire she had to walk on the horizon. The piece was performed by stringing a tightrope across two tractors. She made the piece all the more specific to Janine by having this piece take place in front of her old house in the Bahamas. 

"Saddle". 2000 Janine Antoni

This piece was about her connecting with something that people take advantage of almost every day. The material was rawhide from a cow and was draped over her and hardened to form what she calls a "ghost" of herself. All of the folds and creases are placed specifically by her. The structure created by the hide  and isn't held up[ by anything but the stiffness of the hide itself. What I find interesting is how she almost puts herself in the same posture as a cow would be.