Mark Prent : horror in Canadian art
Date
2001
Authors
Reinhardt, Kimberly Anne
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Abstract
The work and career of Canadian artist Mark Prent have been overshadowed by controversy stemming from his use of horror as a genre and his refusal to provide any explanation for his mutilations and distortions of the human body. This study outlines how controversy has affected Prent as a Canadian artist, while drawing some comparisons between his work and that of American artist Edward Kienholz. This emphasizes how Prent's sculptures, like those of Kienholz, go beyond the limits of major Twentieth Century art movements. A summary of the main trends in contemporary Canadian sculpture is provided to aid an understanding of Prent in the context of contemporary Canadian art. Through his consistent use of horror, he has opened the door for later Canadian artists, such as Jana Sterbak, to explore humanity in this genre. To examine Prent's work specifically, postmodern theory, particularly of Michel Foucault and Rosi Braidotti, is adopted to show how the artist's work responds to the functioning of contemporary social discourses. Finally, as the first Canadian sculptor to be recognized for using horror in his work, this study concludes that the name Mark Prent deserves acknowledgment in the History of Canadian Art.