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Campus Sculpture Tour Ingrid Lilligren
PARAMORPH, 1991 The caverns of Ingrid Lilligren’s Paramorph beg further exploration. A dense merging of forms, the ceramic sculpture expands out of and recedes into itself, producing dark concaves and warm hollows. The organic shapes of the sculpture separate as the viewer moves, suggesting various images from each angle. Seen from one side, Paramorph presents a large, dull brown vessel. Other shapes peer out, almost timidly, from behind the intimidating sculpture. Yet near the top, a smooth lip appears, inviting viewers to examine—if only slightly—the interior of an otherwise impassive structure. Seen from another angle, Paramorph resembles a torso, with the curves of hips, thighs, stomach. Lilligren’s work often turns to interpretations of the human form, as she hopes to connect bodies to art and art to bodies. “I think the experience that I’m most interested in viewers having,” she says, “is one of relating to the work in a fairly physical way, of having a visceral response, as well as thinking about it, as well as being made curious” (interview). And Paramorph does intrigue the viewer, inviting closer inspection as its forms and textures shift. The title of the piece also suggests sly changes: paramorph is a scientific term that denotes a transformation in the physical structure of a mineral that occurs without altering its chemical composition. Lilligren attempts to embody these changes in Paramorph’s form, sliding from shape to shape and texture to texture. Parts appear almost wrinkled, aged with lines, and others, highly ridged. By employing such textures and forms, Lilligren hopes to appeal to the viewer’s senses, again to connect art and the body. “The sensual realm—sensory realm—is very powerful, and very much an area that I consciously work to activate,” she says. “It’s a way to celebrate being human and it’s a way to connect us to our bodies” (interview). Work Cited: About the Artist: Sculptor Ingrid Lilligren earned a B.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (1980) and an M.F.A. from the Claremont Graduate School (1986). Hired at Iowa State University ( Ames) in 1993, she is currently an associate professor of art and design. Lilligren’s work focuses on “organic, biomorphic forms” (artist statement) that tend to explore notions of femininity within their shapes. Her work won a research grant from Iowa State University, and she was also chosen to sculpt several murals for the school. Essay by Christine Hancock ‘06 |
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| last updated 5/25/06 | Copyright © 2006 Grinnell College Grinnell, Iowa 50112 | 641-269-4660 |
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