Peter Callesen

  Peter Callesen Analysis

Mountain II

First impressions

my first impressions of this piece is that it is very simple, the technique of forming the paper into the shape of a mountain by essentially scrunching up parts of it is the simple element to it but the intricate detail of the man on the mountain evokes meaning to it.

Facts

The mountain was scored by hand

The man may have been cut out before the shaping of the mountain

Made from A4 paper

The creation of the mountain was carefully calculated though looks carefree

The man is depicted as a silhouette and not detailed as if we would see up close so realistic in its composition

He was born in Denmark in 1967

Came to London to study at Goldsmiths University

Went back to Denmark to study architecture

Description

It is a man walking towards the peak of the mountain

The mountain looks as if it is moulded freehand

it is very simple yet effective

Formal elements

Simple technique that we would usually overlook because it is done free hand, but here it works to the advantage of achieving the impression of a mountain which also creates the texture, the piece mainly takes the form of a mountain this is created by creating lines by hand the use of this technique gives it a natural look which can only be achieved free hand.

Analysis

The piece had a mood seclusion and venture, I like this piece because through its simplicity it effectively achieves this mood, the piece was created buy cutting a silhouette of a man in motion elevating up towards a mountain and carefully crafting the mountain freehand to mould the man into the piece, I believe shaping the mountain to make it look as if the man is walking up towards it must have been the hardest part in creating the piece. The media used was a piece of A4 paper, a scalpel and maybe a pencil to create the silhouette. I think the artist has done well in creating the ambiance of isolation through the use of a mountain to imply loneliness and seclusion and the man walking it alone furthers this notion.

My initial thoughts about the piece still remain, it simply to me exemplifies a sense of openness and isolation, the contrast of these ideas make it a more complex piece thorugh these two objects. 


"I feel I have found a material that we are all able to relate to, and at the same time the A4 paper sheet is neutral and open to fill with different meaning." - Callesen






My chosen response


   For this experiment I chose to set it around the typography of the M&M logo and placed it behind a yellow background to illustrate the packaging.
I attempted to draw out the typography and make it look 3 dimensional  in order to relate to  Callesen's work, but it turned rather to the direction of his techniques such as his use of a single sheet to create an image, having the images hang off or fully cut out of the page and allowing the pieces that are cut out to become apart of the work. What I believe could of been better about my response is that I could've made it into 3D piece, have a more detailed design and possibly not rely on a background if it isn't an installation of some sorts.