Writing about other artists: Oren Shoesmith

Oren’s art could easily and to a certain extent rightly called about identity, change, the discovery of the self and one’s place in the world.  And while there is a truth in all this, if that is where you stop then you are selling both the art and the artist short.  It is about more than that, and I think, these surface level descriptions hide what it is really about or what is really going on.

Let’s start with the basics shall we.  Oren produce short films,  spoken word or performance pieces, and ceramic objects.  These three often intermingle with each other or our specifically designed to play of each other.  They are experiential in that you benefit from spending time with and interacting with them but also you will enjoy them more if you are the kind of person who uses words like experiential.  

I say this because Oren’s work is often very funny.  At least I think so.  Amongst his ceramic pieces are casts of his nipples.  Nuddity features in his films and while this is sensual and evocative and am also left with the short that he is saying Ha! You say my (and his partner’s) bottom.  Possibly I think this because I am incredibly childish but I don’t think so as there is a gorgeous playfulness in Oren’s work.  It is celebrating where we live, the power and purpose we get from places and how we interact with them and the joy of being alive.  And the strangeness of the world and the great mysteries that there are to be explored. 

It's a fun and interesting place to be Oren’s world and his art invites you in.  Go, go in and enjoy it.