With ancient roots as a literacy device in storytelling, and also in art, anthropomorphism is derived from the Greek anthropos (human) and morphe (shape or form). Most cultures have traditional fables with anthropomorphised animals which can stand and talk. The best modern day example is the Easter Bunny, an anthropomorphised rabbit.
“The grotesque portraits of the Milanese Mannerist painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo intrigue me, using objects so out of context to ascribe human characteristics. I combine plastic dolls and toys of the same type; elements that share a feature, a colour, or a specific topic to create my humanoid and anthropomorphised creatures. The nature of my work is based on the appropriation, re-contextualisation and subversion of pre-existent objects.”
The British art critic Lawrence Alloway first coined the term “Junk Culture” to describe mixed-media work that rescues the throw-away products of modern life, throw-away products like unwanted, outdated and broken children’s toys.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Freya currently works from her studio near Picton, NSW. She has worked part time as the exhibition coordinator for gallery34 in Picton and ARTYCAFE in Narellan. Freya receives regular commissions for her plastic assemblages both nationally and internationally, and works as a casual arts facilitator at Casula Powerhouse and presents workshops for regional Councils and community groups.
Her works have been exhibitioned in various solo and group exhibitions. Freya has received Veolla's Creative Arts Recognition 2014 People's Choice Award (winner), was the artist-in-residence at Sydney Boys Grammar 2013, won the Stockland Shellhabour Hoarding Exhibition Artist Award (2013), People's Choice Prize at Blacktown City Art Prize and won Contemporary Section Fisher's Ghost Art Prize.
plastic, styrofoam and wood
55 x 40 x 35 cm
Finalist
Judges of the 2014 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize: Lisa Havilah (Director of Carriageworks), Justin Miller (International Art Advisor and former Chairman of Sotheby's Australia) and Gretel Packer (Arts Patron and Trustee of the Art Gallery of NSW).
Download PDF (1.4 MB)