This Artist Bank will present artists that engage with the theme of 'Water'.
A symbol of life, depth and transformation, water has been a global source of inspiration for artists. In the contemporary art world, this elemental force continues to captivate imaginations, driving artists to explore its nature through innovative and diverse mediums. This collection showcases an array of contemporary artists who engage with the themes of water in unique and compelling ways. From the delicate beauty of water's flow to its immense power and environmental significance, these artists delve into its depths, offering fresh perspectives and thought-provoking works.
Abyss
The abyss, with its enigmatic and unfathomable depths, evokes both wonder and fear. In contemporary art, the watery abyss serves as a profound metaphor, symbolising mystery, danger and subconscious realms.
Anish Kapoor, Descension, 2015
A'strict, Starry Beach, 2020
John Everett Millais, Ophelia, 1852
Beach
The beach, a liminal space where land meets sea, evokes dual feelings of tranquility and challenge. In contemporary art, the beach is depicted both as a serene frontier for relaxation, contemplation and existential reflection.
Caspar David Friedrich, Wanderer above the sea of Fog. 1818.
Eugenia Lolli, Dry Cleaning, 2024
Robert Smithson, Spiral Jetty, 1970
Climate Change
Climate change, a global crisis reshaping our world, finds poignant symbolism through the global threats of rising sea levels, melting icecaps and water pollution. Artists worldwide harness water as a powerful medium of environmental upheaval and activism
David Popa, Fractured, 2022
Lorenzo Quinn, Support, 2019
Olafur Eliasson, Ice Watch, 2014
Willy Verginer, Shadows in the Water, 2016
Layers
Water, with its reflective, transparent and transformative qualities, offers a unique medium for creating layered and intricate artworks.
Ai Weiwei, Waterlilies, 2023
Maurits Cornelis Escher, Three Worlds, 1956
Life
Water is the essence of life. All life depends on it, and the large oceans that cover our blue planet are brimming with rich variances of life. Water is a place for meditation and revival, baptism and connection.
Calida Rawles, The Space in Which We Travel, 2010
Damien Hirst, The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind, 2010
Nicholas Senegas, Water Flowers Photography, 2016
Pufferfish, 'Crop-circles' made on the ocean floor by Pufferfish.
Pool
Swimming pools are domesticated oceans, reflecting themes of leisure, control, and artificiality. Artists explore the juxtaposition of natural water elements within structured, human-made environments, highlighting both the allure and implications of containing and shaping water to fit our needs. Through these pieces, viewers are invited to consider the swimming pool as a symbol of modern life's intersection with nature, luxury, and control.
David Hockney, Portrait of an Artist (Pool with two figures), 1972
Leandro Erlich, The Swimming Pool, 2004
Mia Bergeron, Afterlife, 2024
Rain
Rain possesses ephemeral beauty, associations of melancholia and transformative power. This collection showcases artworks that capture the essence of rain as a natural phenomenon and as a metaphorical motif. Artists explore rain's ability to evoke emotions, renew landscapes, and symbolise themes of renewal.
Belu-Simon Fainaru, Rose of Nothingness, 2019
KVANT-1, Akvavit, 2021
Random International, The Rain Room, 2012
Sound
Water can be heard through the haunting sound of rhythmic waves, reverberating whale-song and an intimate silence that facilitates meditative introspection. This collection features artworks that delve into the auditory experience of water, capturing its ability to evoke deep memories and emotions.
Finnbogi Peturssun, Cirkle, 2001
Jana Winderen, The Art of Listening: Underwater, 2022
Submerged
The concept of being submerged, whether as a force covering history akin to Atlantis or as an otherworldly environment, serves as a captivating theme in contemporary art. This collection showcases artworks that explore the depths of submerged worlds, inviting viewers to contemplate the hidden histories and imaginative possibilities that lie beneath. Through these artworks, the submerged becomes a symbol of limitless exploration, challenging perceptions and stirring the imagination.
Bill Viola, Five Angels for the Millenium, 2001
Jason deCaires Taylor, Silent Evolution, 2009
Sue Austin, FreeWheeling, 2009
Texture
Water's texture, from its fluidity to its tactile nuances, offers a rich and diverse subject for artists. This collection explores how artists capture and interpret the intricate textures of water, incorporating cultural and ornamental elements that highlight its aesthetic significance.
Hanne Friis, Shades of Black and Blue, 2014
Miguel Rothschild, Elergy, 2017
Mé, Contact, 2019
Tarisse King, Water, 2024
Tide
The tide and the vast horizon evoke a sense of grandeur and ambition, symbolizing humanity's enduring quest to conquer and explore. This collection engages with these themes, capturing the rhythmic ebb and flow of tides, the limitless expanse of horizons, and the symbolic drive behind mankind’s maritime endeavours. Through these pieces, viewers are invited to ponder our relationship with the sea and the dreams and challenges that come with navigating its uncharted waters.
Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872
Fan Ho, Evening in Aberdeen, 1958
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Lake Superior, Point Isabelle, 2003
Rob Gonsalves, The Sun Sets Sail, 2001
Vapour
Although rare, some artists engage with water vapour as a medium for aesthetic experience. From certain perspectives, a shimmering rainbow might be seen in falling water that shifts in intensity or disappears as the viewer approaches or moves away.
Olafur Eliasson, Rainbow Assembly, 2016
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[This post exists within an organic archive, the contents of this post is not fixed at the time of its publication but will grow as more and more artists are added to it.]
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