The Sculpture and Animation of Joseph Seigenthaler

January 31, 2008

The Sculpture and Animation of Joseph Seigenthaler

Joseph Seigenthaler began his art career by building wax sculptures for the Country Music Wax Museums in Nashville and Tamworth, Australia. With this experience he went on to breathe life into the oddest cast of gangly imbeciles that walked straight out of a Brueghel painting. All of them seem to be in a constant state of ecstasy and pain as the withered skin of their ruddy faces fold into grotesque expressions. His work is meticulous and lovingly crafted, bringing a frail humanity to his absurd characters.

Seigenthaler's most recent works are hilarious computer animation loops of his creatures that focus solely on ridiculous gestures and facial contortions. Every limb, every joint, every muscle takes on such subtle but big movements that I can stay in constant hysteric amazement when watching a thirty second-loop for an hour. Fortunately, Seigenthaler has posted a selection of his video work on YouTube, which includes animations of Wesley Willis and George Bush.