Russ Bellamy
My work over the past two years has documented my personal observations and concerns about our society as well as observations of communal behavior. I have discussed social anxiety and political and consumer issues, in addition to social control. My most recent body of work is an exciting and entertaining way for me to view our culture, a culture that can learn from its mistakes and overcome the sociological issues that are referenced in my work.
This work revolves around the interpretation of modern social behavior through visual dialogue and performance. My work asks the viewer to question society’s judgments of behavior, beliefs, and individuality. By creating work evocative of playground equipment I ask for audience participation. This interaction becomes a performance which questions the line between audience and work of art. It also puts the viewer in a situation that is normally unexpected in public situations. There is a strong sense of human instinct in my work, which reflects the idea that we have been forced to control our urge to enjoy certain aspects of our behavior. I relate back to animals and children upon whom society’s behavioral boundaries have had less of an effect. These performances by the audience are my way of asking adults to, more or less act like children and animals with their peers as an audience. This may alter the way our society judges instinctual behavior in and out of the art community.
This body of work incorporates what I consider to be the most exciting aspects of the playgrounds that I grew up with, specifically swings and spring-riders. The work creates a pleasurable experience for the audience. It is not critical for every viewer to ride or interact with the work. I am providing it as an option. As long as the viewer sees someone ride or can visualize someone or something riding the work, it will be successful. I create a feeling of freedom for the viewer; one similar to how they felt when they were children and it didn’t matter whether they wore pants outside or not. I capture the same excitement they had on their way to the playground when they were five, which is how I feel when I make and experience these objects.
Russell Bellamy
"Corsa" "Restrained Rider"
"StPrego"
