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Still Life/Objects

Still lifes can include all kinds of man-made or natural objects.

They can be realistic or abstract. Simple still life arrangements have been used by artists – such as the Cubists - to experiment with shape, viewpoint and material. Artists often choose objects which interest them visually – for their form, colour or texture. This may be the simple shape of a bottle or vase, the complicated pattern on a piece of cloth, or the seed structure of a halved fruit. Pop artists often chose everyday objects to depict because they were inspired by the bold modern designs of the packaging.

Still lifes can also be used symbolically. By depicting particular objects artists suggest other themes or ideas. For example artists have often included skulls in their work to symbolise mortality. By including things of personal significance such as a photograph or a souvenir an extra dimension of meaning is added to the work. Many twentieth century artists depict objects which have a cultural significance, for example Andy Warhol used real everyday objects to symbolise contemporary culture and consumerism.

By depicting familiar everyday objects in unexpected ways artists also provoke unexpected interpretations – or make us think about the objects in a different way. Sarah Lucas cast a toilet in clear resin – creating an object of beauty out of something basic and functional. By exaggerating a light source to create dramatic shadows, by changing the relative scale of objects or by focusing and enlarging a detail, our interpretation of the object is changed. Henry Moore’s cropped and enlarged details of skulls look like interiors of futuristic buildings.