About The Artist

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

For my main work, which is lifecasting, I capture stark realism directly from the human body, and then many times augment this by adding objects normally not found in association with the human body. Many times I add those things that one would associate with death or decay: rusted metal, bone, or broken glass, to name a few. Other pieces celebrate life and wonder, using materials such as shell, dried flowers, and exotic butterflies to name a few. These aspects, mixed with the beauty of the living human form, creates a hauntingly vivid image. This realism, or surrealism, shows not only the beauty in life, but the beauty in death as well. It forces us to look upon things that should not be. It is using beauty in a very active way. Being brutal with beauty, pushing it right to the point of being almost grotesque.

The pieces start by taking cast impressions from living human beings. Sometimes a piece is constructed in several different sections, often using two, three, or more models for a single work.. Materials include Hydrocal, wood, plaster, resins, cement, iron, steel, copper, glass, and bone. Finishes are achieved through combinations of acrylic paints, pearlescent sealers, oxidizing solutions, and the reaction of some of these to heat.

Unlike many other artist's works, I feel my works do not really have anything to say about politics, or society, or anything about the many issues that face us today. They are merely created to make us think. To gaze upon them and contemplate. Too often we are caught up in day to day activities, and forget that we are human, and capable of curiosity and thought. I make these for my own enjoyment as well as the enjoyment of others. Their purpose is to cause wonder. I invite you to ponder these works. What will they say to you? Can they teach you anything? If you pause, even for a second to truly think about these works, then my mission as an artist has been successful, and I thank you for this.

Ben Larson

2011


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ARTIST'S STATEMENT For my main work, which is lifecasting, I capture stark realism directly from the human body, and then many times augment this by adding objects normally not found in association with the human body. Many times I add those things that one would associate with death or decay: rusted metal, bone, or broken glass, to name a few. Other pieces celebrate life and wonder, using materials such as shell, dried flowers, and exotic butterflies to name a few. These aspects, mixed with the beauty of the living human form, creates a hauntingly vivid image. This realism, or surrealism, shows not only the beauty in life, but the beauty in death as well. It forces us to look upon things that should not be. It is using beauty in a very active way. Being brutal with beauty, pushing it right to the point of being almost grotesque. The pieces start by taking cast impressions from living human beings. Sometimes a piece is constructed in several different sections, often using two, three, or more models for a single work.. Materials include Hydrocal, wood, plaster, resins, cement, iron, steel, copper, glass, and bone. Finishes are achieved through combinations of acrylic paints, pearlescent sealers, oxidizing solutions, and the reaction of some of these to heat. Unlike many other artist's works, I feel my works do not really have anything to say about politics, or society, or anything about the many issues that face us today. They are merely created to make us think. To gaze upon them and contemplate. Too often we are caught up in day to day activities, and forget that we are human, and capable of curiosity and thought. I make these for my own enjoyment as well as the enjoyment of others. Their purpose is to cause wonder. I invite you to ponder these works. What will they say to you? Can they teach you anything? If you pause, even for a second to truly think about these works, then my mission as an artist has been successful, and I thank you for this. Ben Larson 2011 AWARDS -ALL AMERICAN SCHOLARS ART AWARD -UNITED STATES ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY NATIONAL ART AWARD GALLERIES - ABALONA ART GALLERY, SWITZERLAND -TATTOO FACTORY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS -LIVING LIGHT STUDIO, FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN -ENCHANTED GARDEN, FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN -COMMITTED IN SKIN LLC, OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN -THE INFERNO CLUB, MADISON, WISCONSIN -INTERNATIONAL LIFECAST MUSEUM -CAHOKIA MOUNDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, ILLINOIS -NUMEROUS PRIVATE COLLECTIONS SITES -WWW.CRAZY-MAD-ARTIST.COM -HTTP://THEGILLMANPAGES.TRIPOD.COM -ASSOCIATION OF LIFECASTERS INTERNATIONAL -INTERNATIONAL LIFECAST MUSEUM -ACCU-CAST.US -MODELMAYHEM -DEVIANTART -FACEBOOK -MYSPACE -JUXTAPOZ -BODYSCAPE.NET.NZ BOOKS -THE WORKS AND CREATIONS OF BENJAMIN C. LARSON, VOLUMES 1-3 (MORE VOLUMES PENDING) -BODY CASTING MANUAL BY OLIVIER DUHAMEL