7/23/2019 Malena Bergmann Response

1/3

Tyler Rapp

Julie Hicks

Visual Arts

November 13, 2015

Malena Bergmann Response

Malena Bergmann is an interesting person and artist, to say the least, but immensely

intriguing and fascinating. Honestly speaking, her coming to talk was one of my favorite parts of

this course thus far. Everything about her was really neat and unique in ways that I have never

really heard about with artists. Also, I thought it was cool how she teaches here at UNC Charlotte

and lets herself prosper in the presence of aspiring artists and other students.

Everything about her sparked my interest because she was so free-living and seemed to

have no worries about anythinga trait that is so rare to come across. She basically saysand

doeswhatever comes to mind about everything in life. Even in the way she dressed, which was

more uncommon than the average person here on campus, displayed her great personality.

Regarding Malenas art, it was all peculiar, yet amazing. I have never seen art of that

fashion before, and so much of it at that. With her kinetic pieces, I loved the integration of

technology to create moving parts. The juxtaposition of the synthetic technology with some of

the natural components she usedsuch as hair, bones, etc.is something special. Speaking of

natural substances, that may be one of my favorite parts of her work. She spoke on several

occasions about her art representing that of life and death. As such, she uses bones and random

items (such as an EKG strip) to convey her themes. The use of bones, which she said she uses

because they hold the material of something that used to walk this earth, is so unique.

7/23/2019 Malena Bergmann Response

2/3

Additionally, she uses things such as grass to convey life. I absolutely loved the piece where she

used grass and worms because of its life/death concept. I did not know you could display pieces

like that in an art gallery, but it is super great that she did that.

Malenas static work, which is that of paintings, is really coolbut she stated that she is

going to take these off her website. I personally think it is interesting to see the evolution of her

art from the paintings to the more alive and substantive works, although she seemed unimpressed

by them. With that being said, it appears she is more proud and excited about her work that is

super unique and one-of-a-kind, like the pieces previously discussed. However, I definitely think

all of her work is very good.

The last segment of her website includes the film she created with the nude woman. I

admire how Malena does not care to use nudity and sexuality in her works because this is often

seen as too provocative by many. All of the allusions the film contains also threw me for a

loop. I would have never realized all of them had she not explained them during her talk. As a

fan of vintage things and the idea of using them in art, I loved how she integrated old

cinematography in her film. The use of wore away and scratched film added a neat effect.

From Malena, I learned so many things about art. For one, I can fully understand that art

can virtually be anything. Art is such a broad term that is not applied strictly to paintings or

sculptures, but to anything someone makes. Malenas works comprise of so many elements that

are uncommon in many other artistss works, but she uses her personal touches so effectively. I

also learned that art is not always necessarily for the viewers, but may be for the artist as well.

For her piece involving a ritual, she did not have people present to watchwhich is something I

really admire. I think arts power should not always be conveyed for everyone else if your

7/23/2019 Malena Bergmann Response

3/3

intentions are for your own benefit. Malena epitomized this with her ritual with her ex-husband

and other people to show art can be used for so many disparate things in life.