Monday 9/11/20 - Victor Hugo

Before reading the brief I had never looked at Victor Hugo's work before, I only recognised the name from Les Misérables. However, his work really stood out compared to other artists in the brief. Instead of looking at someone in a field I am comfortable and experienced in, I wanted to look at his work.

Despite being widely known for his written work, many including myself never knew about what he produced visually. He created over 3000 ink drawings in his lifetime. They were heavily experimental and featured very fluid and abstract themes. Much of his work actually predated the modernist and absract movements (for reference the abstract movement developed during the 1940s and Hugo died 1885). During his lifetime he only ever shared his work with friends and family, they were never once exhibited.

The process behind these ink drawings involved allowing to let the ink and water naturally flow and pool into spontanious shapes. This was done by soaking the paper leaving his work to chance. He then added to these through stencil, collage and leaving the impressions of objects such as his fingers, leaves and lace. His work was left with a combination of recognisable and abstract shapes. His work often gives off a very moody, stormy and brooding atmosphere.

That's what caught my attention, the atmosphere he portrays with this work and how he uses a very spontanious process to make them. It creates very dramatic pieces that I feel really help to create a unique take and perception on an altered state. I also like how it creates a very abstract piece that has a sense of familiarity.

These two in particular were my favourites of his. They really show off the stormy atmosphere his work tends to give.