The work of South African illustrator and artist Dominique Sarah Benton appears disarmingly cute yet also portrays a rather twisted and intriguing world of strange figures and cartoon-like characters. Her viewpoint is far from timid with a definitive undercurrent of sexuality peering through. The images pull you in, like when you find yourself helpless drawn into and staring at the grotesque – simultaneously charmed and curiosity peaked. This venus flytrap effect convinced us that we had to feature her work and ask her a little bit about herself.
What are the themes that you explore in your work?
Dominque Sarah Benton: I’ve never been any good at expressing myself verbally, neither have I been any good at writing down my thoughts, opinions or feelings. Visual communication became an important way for me to express what I was dealing with internally. Since I can remember I’ve been a strong-willed and opinionated person. I noticed from a young age that at times my female gender placed me at a disadvantage. Society has constructs and predetermined categories for males and females. This bothers me. Why should I have to act and be a certain way, especially when male peers tend to have more freedom, specifically when it comes to them being able to act upon urges, make decisions, and generally be taken seriously. This awareness and frustration lead me into exploring work in the subject of gender and sexual identity. Taking a stance as a straight, white female commenting on the greater field of gender and sexuality is what I have focused on.
Can you tell us about the pop + absurd quality to your illustrations, which we might add we find thoroughly intriguing and enchanting?
DSB: The style in which I work falls into the pop art category. My reference materials consist of pornographic images and animals. Theories surrounding deconstruction influence my practice, I take apart the human sexual form, rebuild and combine it with physical animal characteristics. The cute and bright nature of my work acts as a tool to draw in a larger audience. On closer inspection they are then confronted with the reality of the image. My work ranges from 2D illustrations to sculptural 3D mixed media pieces that are sometimes a combination of drawing and sculpture. All works act as an ongoing process. Nothing is final as none of my work is ever really conclusive. Process is of the utmost importance as it allows room for criticism and for my skill and theory to continually develop and improve.
Benton echos words similar to those of Keith Haring back in 1978, that work is always in process. He wrote “The drawing is “finished” from the time you start with the first line. There are places you can “stop” the drawing and and call it “finished” but it is never really is “finished” until time and space itself are “finished.” There are always infinitely more things you can do to the composition, the trouble is knowing when to stop. The beauty is knowing when to stop. I choose when to stop, but my work is never “finished” and always “finished.” (Keith Haring. Excerpt Sketches 1978)
She is participating in an upcoming group exhibition next month in Seoul at the Myeongdong Fantasy Festival. The show titled ‘The Hero’s Journey’ will showcase work under the theme, monomyth opening on October 16, 2011.
Myeongdong Gallery
12-16-2 Chungmuro 4F
Seoul, South Korea 100-869
About
Dominque Sarah Benton (b. 1987) graduated with a bachelors degree in Fine Arts from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. She has participated in solo and group shows, co-created the label Friend or Foe, creative directed South African artist, Jack Parow’s clothing label, Parowphernalia, whilst doing various colourful odd-jobs along they way from telemarketing to working at a sex shop. She currently lives and works in South Korea. Her commercial projects are usually signed under the artistic aliases of either Orangeplaydough or Friend or Foe and her personal projects signed under her own name.
dominiquesarahbenton.blogspot.com
orangeplaydough.tumblr.com
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All images courtesy of the artist, Dominique Sarah Benton. All rights reserved.
mike mike
Sep 21, 2011
Nice one Dom!!!!!
x