2017 Jan Cleveringa- A Moving World- Installation Sculpture, Scenic Sculpture Prize Finalist

2017 Jan Cleveringa
“A Moving World”
Sculpture/Installation- Three tombstones set amongst rainforest 

(288 Fluorescent Light Tubes, silicon, wood)
Scenic World Sculpture finalist, Blue Mountains, Australia.

The slim, white lined, sterile, repetitive and banal commodity of 288 defunct fluorescent light globes (tubes) are sculptured into a three tombstones and driven upward, vertically, bare and naked against the growing green, lively, humus rainforest around it, which, constantly grows whilst reclaiming the damaged areas previously caused by human presence which was once a coal mine.

'A Moving World' raises questions about time, sustainability, renewability, the environment and the machine of business. It is also designed to recognize the impact of changing technologies on our environment, our culture, our attitudes and social patterns and what drives these changes.

'A Moving World' is a representation about rebirth, slow cultural change, waste and renewal. The installation is made from 288 fluorescent light bulbs in which its fluoro technology is being replaced by new LED light technology. The bulbs do not light up and are likened to the bones of the past. They are redundant and re-imagined. It is juxtaposed by, and set, in the lush, humid rainforest (of the Blue Mountains, Sydney Australia) which may invoke a range of wider implications.

The tombstone is a metaphor for this rebirth of both technology and the associated social changes of its impact. We don’t often think about how technology changes us socially and sometimes we do. We sometimes predict the future impact correctly and sometimes we get it wrong. We only need to look at the impact of the TV to see how the social pattern of the family living room was affected from once where the seating may have functioned as a square pattern for a conversation- to one, now, more likely as a ‘U’ shape that faces the TV.

This artwork was particularly created to elucidate the slow change and impact as if ’almost by stealth’ in our society as its change is reasonably subtle when comparing it to the TV or the rise of the internet, the mobile phone or global warming’s impact on attitudes in society. We seem oblivious to its changing impact in the many areas of human interaction like waste, industry, the home and future- not to mention influences on architecture, design, mood, the home and business into the future.

"Epiphany"- Light Art Projection Installation- Finalist 2016 Chippendale New World Art Prize

"Epiphany," (a projection onto canvas) is inspired by colour, beauty and the spiritual uses new world technology much like a painter that sketches a study for a painting. I have misused phone app software to make electronic sketches as small as 2kb in size (rather than pencil) that have been enlarged, changed and continually developed and screenshot until I have been satisfied in its final form for an oil painting or this projection work which goes onto canvas. This particular work asks- is it a painting, a photograph, a projected light work, a moving image, a technological installation, an abstract work or realism? Is it about technology and beauty?
‘Epiphany’ uses the aesthetics of and the discipline of painting (once claimed as ‘dead’) where painting continues to be inspired by new and exciting technologies that also seem to impact on our social culture, identity, beauty and the everyday.

There are about 2-3 Billion people using mobile phone app edited images distorting their reality to make their lives and reflective images seem more beautiful than they really are and thus creating a pseudo reality phenomenon. How does this influence attitudes about identity and beauty? What are the social consequences on the human psyche, its impact and our attitudes in contemporary society?

2014 Jan Cleveringa- "Who?"

2014 Jan Cleveringa- "Who?"
Acrylic Paint, Bones and Resin on Canvas,
62 x 62 x 4cm

I have rejected my usual approach to painting for a more installation type work using uncomfortable materials in a passionate way about my spiritual experience through depressed eyes. Depression a has been exposed using a ghastly experience being expressed through somewhat ghostly and disturbing material. Nothing can be more naturally insecure than to expose deep horrible feelings of despair, loss and contradictory hope in the conundrum of depression.

The stigma, the discrimination about mental health, and the commonality of the illness in our growing society. The emotional realities like switching realms allows for a changed spiritual perception and for life changing different views. An experience, hard to share in intensity.

In this work, I collected these bones for over a year from chickens that I ate whilst thinking about this work, unsure of what would result or if I would use them. I just needed to collect them. Each bone having been in my mouth and their flesh ingested symbolise the organic human needs like hunger, love and morbidity raising the big faith questions of "Who am I and why?" Hence, feeding off the flesh of animals and the normal but ritualistic time taken to do this provide a disturbing recognition and almost urky realisation of the human condition for the viewer. Perhaps a small glance into the similar disturbed condition of depression.

Here, open to different interpretation, the organic machine is broken like a machine wheel or human egg where intense emotions and spiritual awakenings/feelings come and go in a snapshot of a tide of glassy black like water washing against bones in an ebb and flow movement. An intuitive way of making art.

2014 Jan Cleveringa Artwork- "Fade" Light Installation NAVA Soup Session 3 My Pitch 29.08.2014 Raising Monies for Art

NAVA Soup Session Pitch 29.08.2014

Hi and welcome everyone…

My name is Jan Cleveringa….

Please come and talk to me anytime…tonight!

I want to talk to you about my passion for creating art. I want to share with you my journey and want you to be part of it….invest in it…. and be part of my trajectory further into the art world.

I have an arts practice that has been going now for a short while and I am a serious F/T... emerging artist.

My art is mostly about cultural change and Australian Identity.

But I will talk about me at the end…..if I have time.

I will get stuck right into it. ….I really ‘NEED’ your money for an art work next month.

I have been accepted into Sydney’s Chippendale… Art Precinct’s …BEAMS Art Festival… it’s next month on the Saturday the 27th. You should all come along as it’s a fantastic night of great new art…they block off about 7 streets and there is a huge range of different art, music and dance. They had 10,000 people see it last year.

Well….my artwork is an installation sculpture that uses light…..but not necessarily electricity.

I HAVE 30,000…. 1.2m ....fluorescent light tubes………………….. My art work has been accepted. ….. I already have them in storage…..on pallets…..My artwork is called….. “FADE”.

FADE talks about ….technology changing and …….slowly becoming redundant over time...FADING...from fluorescent lights to the new cheaper running… environmentally friendlier…LED lights …over time …and ……HOW it impacts on OUR culture and ….HOW we relate to this change. The technology FADES and the NEW comes in.

Fluorescent light was such a big thing…cheap and bright when invented… and now gradually being replaced over time.

FADE….much…. like…. how the mobile phone has created a new social change in our lives…24/7….and where a new language was created ….like OMG, BRB, …LOL …ROFLMAO etc… so too….will new lights also change how we interact at night, in the backyard, entertaining friends etc. ….(Changing light globes also show that we are moving to a Greener Culture).

So…..What do I need??????

I need your investment for a ….

- 4 tonne truck….. Can you imagine the logistics!!!!!
- Some wood panels
- Glue
- Perspex boxes
- Some ….Luminescent paint

- And … for documenting the art work…….. as part of my growing portfolio…. for applying to galleries as well.

So now … you know ……what your money is going too….. directly!

Can you imagine STACKING 30,000 fluoro light globes???? ……..And you can be part of it!!!! ….. Feel them…..imagine them…...

Did I mention….that….I am actually doing this artwork at my own cost and that BEAMS is all unpaid using volunteers. It’s all for the Sydney community. It provides an exciting new spectacle.

So if you want to volunteer….let me know as well….that would be fantastic!

So now… a bit about me….. I am a Western Sydney artist who began as an artist publicly only a few yrs ago…. A late starter.

I have been a constant finalist in some well-respected art prizes like the Blacktown City Art Prize, the Mosman Art Prize, …..as well as the Campbelltown, The Hawkesbury and other prizes. I am a painter, sculptor, Installation and video artist and my practice keeps exploring and growing.

I was awarded a 6 month Studio Residency at the Blacktown Art Centre last year …… and this year…. I finished a 2 month Studio Residency at the Purple Noon Gallery, at Freemans Reach near Windsor.

I also have a B. Arts from Sydney University majoring in Psychology…I went to Sydney College of the Arts and have a M. Mgt from the University of Technology, Sydney (in Community Management).

But ….. My most important accomplishment is my 4 beautiful kids. All girls.

What else?

I still work as a casual youth worker in Western Sydney but I also used to be a Manager looking after kids in Western Sydney. I ran programs regarding homelessness, young people, women’s refuges, Young Mums, Drug and Alcohol, Juvenile Justice programs and some Aboriginal Services …with… and for …….Aboriginal peoples.

I’ve worked in Community Welfare for about 20 yrs.

I did have a break…. and some people get a little shocked when I tell them…. but I was also a Funeral Director up the Mid north Coast for 2 years…. But that’s more about me ….exploring the world.

PICASSO once said …when asked….”What is your favourite painting ….that you ever did?” and he said, “It’s my next one!”

Overall, ….before my pitch FADE’s into your memories, … I would just like to say thank you all for letting me be part of today and …to my competitors and …everyone from NAVA and 107 for giving me the chance.

Thank you!