The work: Claire Crook, Watch Me Go, 2023. Wall scultpure, wood and synthetic polymer,
46 x 32 x 3cm. Courtesy: the artist.
Upon viewing the work of Sydney-based artist Claire Crook, one is immediately struck by the sheer joyfulness of her aesthetic approach. Elements are brought together utilising a method reminiscent of the assemblage practices of Jean Arp and Henri Matisse, where discrete objects both found and fabricated are carefully married to create a cohesive whole – a playful mix of colour and form. In her work Watch Me Go, we see sharply defined segments of vivid green and orange interlocking with the warmer tones of reclaimed wood. Her choice of mediums is an informed decision, with the artist stating that “reclaimed materials represent an acknowledgment of the past, and new materials represent optimism for the future”. The tactile wood, ripe with associations with traditional art practices and organic forms, is physically intersected with bright blocks of colour. While abstract, the work is therefore hopeful, emulating the mindset of the artist. Crook says that while her works are not created with a set narrative, meaning of the work is slowly realised through the creative process. In the case of Watch Me Go, the artist says that the work “speaks to regaining momentum and direction in my art practice and in my life generally”.