The Fragile Form
In 2006 I made a series of works using the human form, to show the precariousness of the existence of life on our planet. The major piece from the series was titled Hermetic, and featured a 2/3 scale beeswax figure of a man, huffing a chrome paint filled plastic bag. It was an uncanny and somewhat surreal image, this floating figure seemingly leaning against the wall whilst breathing the contents of the bag in and out with the use of internal fans and circuits.
The work spoke of finite resources and closed environmental loops, in a world where humans want more and more. The fact that people saw a ‘chromer’ as a brain melting drug addict on the path of self annihilation, and yet, would refuse to reflect on our society’s desire for infinite material wealth, and the ensuing environmental destruction this brings to our planet.
Of course, it is also a nod to classical western sculpture. It subverts the traditional idea of making an artwork that represents the epoch of societies aspirations at this particular moment in time.
Narcolepsy
Figures with hands extending like tendrils to sprout more humans, they floated in space, creating a dream like moment of disbelief. They sat in an undefined space. Human, yes, but in rapture or agony, I could not tell. They extended through space like the rhizomes of fungus.
