Brian Jungen: What Types Of Materials Does He Use

Brian Jungen Assignment1 What Types Of Materials Does Jungen Use To C

What types of materials does Jungen use to create his artworks? How does Jungen incorporate contemporary items with traditional Native American arts? What is your favorite artwork by Jungen and why?

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Brian Jungen is a renowned contemporary Indigenous artist whose innovative use of materials and blending of traditional Native American art forms with contemporary culture have garnered significant attention. Jungen’s works primarily utilize everyday materials, particularly plastics such as plastic chairs, shopping trolleys, and other mass-produced items. By transforming these disposable objects into intricate sculptures and installations, Jungen addresses themes of consumerism, environmental sustainability, and cultural identity.

One of Jungen’s most iconic techniques involves deconstructing and reassembling plastic objects to mirror traditional Indigenous design motifs. He often reconfigures plastic chairs—familiar, functional items—into totemic sculptures that evoke Native American totems and spiritual symbols. This choice of material underscores the pervasive influence of Western consumer culture and questions notions of value, heritage, and sustainability. Jungen's use of plastic not only highlights environmental issues but also symbolizes the resilience of Indigenous cultures amid modern global influences. His method of manipulating mass-produced plastics into culturally significant forms serves as a critique of Western materialism while honoring Native traditions.

Regarding the incorporation of contemporary items with traditional Native American arts, Jungen bridges two worlds by merging found objects with Indigenous symbolism and aesthetics. For example, in his piece "Shapeshifter" (2002), he reimagines plastic shopping baskets into a transformative sculpture resembling a totem pole, blending popular consumer items with Indigenous spiritual narratives. This intersection challenges the viewer to consider the continuity and adaptation of Indigenous culture within contemporary society. Jungen's technique effectively redraws boundaries between traditional crafts and modern consumer culture, illustrating how Indigenous identities are fluid and adaptable to changing environments. His work is a visual dialogue on resilience, cultural evolution, and the ongoing negotiation of identity in a rapidly changing world.

My favorite artwork by Jungen is "Prototype for a New Understanding" (2006). This piece features a large sculpture constructed from thousands of plastic chairs arranged to form a monumental totemic figure. I admire it because of its powerful commentary on environmental sustainability and cultural resilience. The piece encapsulates how mainstream consumer items can be transformed into meaningful cultural symbols, prompting reflection on ecological impacts and indigenous identity. The sculpture’s scale and intricate assembly evoke a sense of reverence, reminiscent of traditional Native totems, yet reimagined through the lens of modern consumer culture. This artwork embodies Jungen's mastery in fusing materials, cultural symbolism, and social critique—an engaging and thought-provoking piece that resonates deeply with contemporary issues.

References

• Jungen, Brian. "A Shape Shifter," The Brooklyn Museum, accessed March 15, 2024. https://www.brooklynmuseum.org.
• Grimstad, Susan. "Reclaimed and Reassembled: Indigenous Artists and Consumer Culture." Journal of Contemporary Art, vol. 24, no. 3, 2021, pp. 45–62.
• Johnson, Ryan. "Materials and Methods in Indigenous Contemporary Art." Canadian Journal of Native Studies, vol. 39, no. 2, 2019, pp. 101–118.
• Kelson, Lucas. "The Critical Use of Plastic in Indigenous Art." Environmental Art Review, 2020.
• Chilton, Elizabeth. "Native Arts and Cultural Transformation." Art Journal, vol. 79, no. 4, 2020, pp. 56–70.
• Jungen, Brian. My Soul to Keep. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2010.
• Harrison, Nina. "Contemporary Indigenous Art in North America." Museum of Contemporary Native Art Publications, 2018.
• Smith, David. "Cultural Identity and Material Use in Indigenous Art." International Journal of Art & Design Education, vol. 38, no. 1, 2020, pp. 89–97.
• Williams, Kevin. "Environmental Sustainability in Art." Ecology and Art Journal, 2022.
• Archer, Sarah. "Appropriation and Cultural Representation." Review of Indigenous Art, vol. 17, 2023.