The Daily talked with Tufts MFA dual-degree sophomore Theo Bunce about his forays into oil paints, the idea of a vessel and whether a totem pole is ever just a totem pole.
Tufts Daily: How long have you been doing art?Theo Bunce: I have been drawing and painting since the 3rd or 4th grade. Although when I started my artistic creations involved only finger painting and chicken scratch, who knew that I was already following in the footsteps of [abstract artist] Cy Twombly?
TD: Were your parents influential in your artistic endeavors?TB: Yes, my parents have always been very supportive of my artistic pursuits. They were the ones who first bought me art supplies. They were always encouraging me to try new things, to see what I did and did not like. They were the ones who encouraged me to apply to an arts high school. And they still continue to support my artistic inclinations; they know how important art is to me.
TD: What is your favorite medium?TB: Currently I am really into painting and drawing, but in high school I did a lot of sculpture. I just started getting into the world of oil paints, and I have to say, it is a very slippery slope. Not that it's not a beautiful medium, but I am still getting used to handling and controlling the paint.
TD: Can you explain what the focus is of the work you are currently working on?TB: Right now I am doing a series of drawings exploring the idea of the vessel, both in the physical sense and the spiritual sense. In the simplest of terms a vessel is a cup, a container, usually for liquids. I like vessels because they are usually for a function other than just being. People are also vessels, we spend a great deal of our lives trying to figure out what we want to do, how we should contribute to society, in many we are just trying to figure out our function. Along the same lines, I am also fascinated by the idea of the totem and totem pole. Because of my background in sculpture I like the idea of having an object represent so much more than what it actually is. A totem pole, in its essence, is just a carved piece of wood, but as we all know, it is much more than that. It is a symbol of a group of people, of a specific culture; it is a monument. But it can also be associated as a phallic symbol, as a representation of the penis.
TD: This piece is a little more subtle representation of the style you just described. Do you like mixing it up? Do you prefer one approach to the other?TB: I have another piece that shows a totem pole decaying; it's falling apart and crumbling before our very eyes. And contrasted with this deterioration are the vaginas that are soft and fluid, full of life. This is reinforced by my use of color on the vaginas and a lack there of everywhere else. For this one I wanted to focus more on the atmosphere surrounding the totem poles instead of being in your face about the phallic imagery.
- Mike Adams
