Ria Brodell
Ria Brodell, A Separation of Friends (the Whale is Dropped), 2006
acrylic and colored pencil on paper,
30” x 22”
Lent by the Artist, Courtesy Judi Rotenberg Gallery, Boston, MA
Ria Brodell observes and records her world of imagined creatures in narrative drawings and brings them to life in accompanying sculptures. The Distant Lands, Brodell’s name for her fantasy world, is a place where worms and bunnies combine to create long fuzzy Wormbunnies, and guinea pigs mix with dinosaurs to make scaly Guineasaurs. Brodell’s narrative is infused with a dreamlike innocence with anthropomorphic creatures acting as substitutes for humans, underlining their humorous and aggressive behavior. For example, despite being made of the same material, the Clumps and Sodmonsters cannot live peacefully with each other. In addition, the heroic pairing of a giant whale and tiny submarine echoes dynamic duos from graphic novels, who instill supernatural hope in the power of good to overcome evil. Brodell’s observation of this imagined society creates a playful otherworld where the complexity of warfare is rendered simple and its purpose absurd. — Lisa Sutcliffe, Koch Curatorial Fellow
“When I first came to the Distant Lands I took an observational approach to the creatures I discovered. I was primarily interested in their physical characteristics and their social interactions. Currently, I am investigating the role that each creature plays in the greater community.
Although this is a beautiful place, there is trouble here and everyone seems to be involved. There is a war raging between the Clumps and the Sodmonsters. Both of these creatures are formed from dirt and grass. It’s as if the earth is fighting itself. The Sodmonsters are relentless in their pursuit of territory and their more peaceful counterparts, the Clumps, are unable to stop them. The Whale and his friend the Submarine, long revered for their wisdom by all of the creatures, have been summoned to try to bring a peaceful resolution to the endless battles.”— Ria Brodell
Ria Brodell will present an Artist Talk on Saturday, June 30 at 3 pm.
Brodell will be the Guest Artist for the Eye Wonder Family Program on Sunday,
August 12, drop-in from 1 - 3 pm.
