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An Unnatural History: New Fables
Historically, myth and folklore have been used as a means for humans to better understand and make sense of the world around them. Within these fantastic, epic, and sometimes very dark stories emerge gods, or monsters, that act out lessons of morality surrounding contemporary issues of the time. I choose to use creatures from these stories, as well as my own variations of characters, to visually address my concerns about problems that exist in our current time. I design each creature with a reflection of humanity in the faces, and fantasy elements in the overall narrative. Additionally, I blend fairy-tale with very real-world problems in order to shape my concerns into something of a new, more approachable story. With my new show Unnatural History, I am heavily influenced with the issues and results of human induced climate change. As climate change is one of the central fears of our age, I try to address my fears by juxtaposing whimsy against the dark edges of planetary upheaval, in an effort to bring viewers closer to the subject. I feel that the world is on a crumbling precipice of disaster, and there are too many of us in power, and without, that do not do enough, know enough, or simply choose to see this planetary destruction as a “myth or fairy tale” instead of reality. Taking additional cues from natural history displays in dioramas from the world over, I’m telling new cautionary tales. Eventually, these tales could be a reality as new creatures evolve, and are born from the ever-increasing derailment of the ecosystems all life needs for survival, and beyond. |
Ravaged in life, yet born again – 2015
(Ceramic clay, polymer clay, acrylics, natural lichen, epoxy)
(Ceramic clay, polymer clay, acrylics, natural lichen, epoxy)
Its only Home, and now Alone - 2015
(Ceramic clay, Polymer clay, faux diorama materials, wood, glass eyes, KR vinyl base, acrylics)
(Ceramic clay, Polymer clay, faux diorama materials, wood, glass eyes, KR vinyl base, acrylics)
A Conversation About Deforestation– 2015
(Polymer clay, faux diorama materials, wood, glass eyes, KR vinyl base, acrylics)
(Polymer clay, faux diorama materials, wood, glass eyes, KR vinyl base, acrylics)
Their world was Dry, and only the humans knew why – 2015
(Polymer clay, faux diorama materials, crackle paste, wood, glass eyes, KR vinyl base, acrylics)
(Polymer clay, faux diorama materials, crackle paste, wood, glass eyes, KR vinyl base, acrylics)
The Great Drought that reaches the shores of a Fabled World – 2015
(Polymer clay, faux diorama materials, crackle paste, wood, glass eyes, KR vinyl base, acrylics)
(Polymer clay, faux diorama materials, crackle paste, wood, glass eyes, KR vinyl base, acrylics)
Totem– 2015
(Ceramic clay, polymer clay, faux diorama materials, acrylics)
(Ceramic clay, polymer clay, faux diorama materials, acrylics)
