Being in the Material: Art Is Everywhere

There are many theories and practices that focus on living ‘artfully,’ which means that the very act of living involves a constant yearning for means of expression. The Irish poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde, stated that “art offers it (life) certain beautiful forms through which it may realise that energy.” We simply have to take the time to look around us, because there is already an abundance of materials and experiences in the natural and synthetic world for us to creatively work with.

Vik Muniz is a Brazilian contemporary artist who is renowned for his large scale photographic works that comment on social, cultural and political issues. He appropriates iconic imagery, such as Jacques-Louis David’s The Death of Marat, which he re-conceptualizes and re-presents using unconventional art media (but commonplace materials) such as garbage, dirt and food. His Marat (Sebastião) (2008), depicts Tião Santos, a garbage picker from Jardim Gramacho, one of the largest landfills in Latin America. Muniz started by photographing Santos, in the exact pose as Marat in David’s composition. Next, the photograph was ‘painted’ with garbage so that the image of Santos was developed by arranging layers of debris from Jardim Gramacho. The resulting ‘painting’ was then photographed again.

Exploration of materials is a major component of artistic learning and development. Through exploring a material’s properties, an artist discovers ways to change the material in order to make visual matches that convey symbolic meaning. Muniz’s work is a good example of how an artist thinks within the material and creates something entirely new and unexpected. Because of the lack of funding for the arts across the nation, it is imperative for art educators to get creative with the materials they introduce to their students. Everyday objects are especially useful because they can be sourced for free or little cost, and provide a wealth of affordances for the maker to create expressive works of art. Using materials that we’re familiar with in our everyday lives, adds a level of personal and/or collective cultural significance to a work of art. In the case of Muniz’s art, his materials embody the essence of the work’s subject matter and add a uniquely poignant humanist outlook on the value and agency of human beings.

Furthering his response to issues regarding the human condition, Muniz has been a proponent of art education in areas where children have very little exposure to the arts. He is opening a school in Brazil where young children from diverse backgrounds can develop studio habits of mind that will help them become critical and visionary members of society.