Every month Beautiful Bizarre Magazine chooses one of our favourite artists to TAKE OVER our social media for the day. For June, we chose Ronit Baranga to share with us the artists who have inspired her throughout her artistic career. Just in case you missed it, below we present the full TAKE OVER.
Ronit Baranga// Ronit was featured in Issue 20 of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, where we delved deeper into the “dichotomy of her work and the element of the unexpected it holds.” Here is an excerpt from Issue 20: “The sculpture of Ronit Baranga deals with complex ideas about the human condition. Human bodies, mouths, hands, fingers, expressions, attitudes and postures, draw the viewer into powerful and emotive works. Her art reflects the world in which she lives, and deals with universal ideas that anyone can relate to. “My art reflects my ability to observe, to examine and process through sculpture, issues of being a woman, issues relevant to every one of us, who live in a society, connected to the people around us, influenced by them and affecting them.” [Words by Marie Larkin]
“Lilith” // Kiki Smith // I saw Kiki Smith’s “Lilith” over twenty years ago in New York, when I was still a psychology student. I remember standing for a long time in front of the upside-down figure, climbing on the wall, staring at me with a penetrating look. I remember the feeling of “magnetizing” art that can take you through a great emotional experience, causing you to really think. Kiki Smith’s “Lilith” is one of the reasons I chose art as a profession.
“Dismaland” // Banksy // In 2015, I travelled to the UK to participate in the “Dismaland” exhibition, conceived, curated and created by Banksy. In this exhibition, art was experienced in a new way, something I had never encountered before: the viewers became an integral part of the exhibition space. It was a complete experience that influenced me as a viewer, an experience I took with me later and continued to process even after the exhibition ended. I would also like to be able to create an exhibition in which the audience can experience the space, feel as they are part of the exhibition and not only viewers of it.
“All in One” //Aida Muluneh// Recently I was in New York City for my solo show “Demons’ Playground” at Booth Gallery. During my visit, I had a chance to go to the MoMA and see a wonderful photography exhibition. Aida Muluneh’s work left a very strong impression on me and I wanted to share it with you. I found it intriguing as it indirectly relates to a new body of works that I am currently working on.
“Two Women” //Ron Mueck// I really love Ron Mueck’s hyper realistic works. They convey very precise feelings and concepts. Hyper-realism allows you to feel close, but at the same time the difference in scale keeps you distant and enables examination from a different angle, detached. I saw “Two Women” when it was exhibited in Israel. It was an extraordinary experience. These are works that must be seen “live” to appreciate just how powerful they are.
“Tangled Up In You” // Beth Cavener and Alessandro Gallo// “Tangled Up In You” is a very complex, three-dimensional hanging sculpture. I absolutely love Beth Cavener’s work, the fascinating metaphorical ideas and her wonderful sculptural skills. This sculpture also depicts the amazing cooperation between Cavener and her partner, Allesandro Gallo, who painted the tattoos on the snake. Lastly, I greatly appreciate the collaboration of two artists, creating a single work of art.
“Moss People” // 7Kim Simonsson // I really like this series of works. The moment in which an image of a live figure, breathing and moving, is all covered with moss, indicates a static state, being stuck. This fascinates me. Beautiful works that throw you into other worlds, filled with meaning.
Gehard Demetz // I love the exceptional wood-carved sculptures made by Gehard Demetz. I especially like his works of children figures. These sculptures are fascinating, showing innocence, vulnerability and threat, all at once. The range of these feelings is something I relate to and deal with in my own work.
This was the last piece chosen by Ronit Baranga for her TAKE OVER. Thank you again Ronit, we really appreciate you taking the time to put this day together.
