Statement

My work is a series of oil paintings and instillations depicting a series of female bodies immersed within natural landscape settings. My theme of work focuses on an idealised concept in which humanity interacts with nature and how nature and humanity interlink particularly focusing on feminine connection.

 

I centre on the idea that nature reflects us, and we reflect nature, the better we treat it the better it treats us. Drastic climate change is already taking destructive effect, caused primarily by the use of fossil fuels which many large corporations abuse, which particularly hits third world countries the worst. My work can be considered as a protest against this disregard for the future and our direct connection to nature.

 

Considering where the passion for this theme had derived from is primarily recent UK politics and how British culture sees nature so separate from daily life. Having grown up in the UK, it is continuously apparent that the country is morbidly capitalistic and favours industrial practices despite the planet facing drastic climate change due to this. Hearing politicians consistently discrediting climate protests, for example the 'Just Stop Oil' movement protesting the continuous human impact on the environment have controversial methods of protest. For example, notably vandalising a Van Gogh painting, which was massively criticised by the public and politicians themselves, however many of these same politicians ironically are involved in the same policies that contribute to limiting funds to art schools and those same museums.

 

 At its core, I want my work to be engaged with as a clear representation of the fundamental importance of the relationship between humanity and nature, specifically attempting to oppress it being completely futile and self-destructive.

 

Furthering from this, another factor that has contributed towards my work is much of western culture has forgotten its roots to nature, compared to many other cultures both past and present which worship and embrace it. Looking at old mythology and beliefs especially, nature has always been something closely linked to femininity, whether involving the moon cycle or simply the term ‘Mother’ nature. My work acts as a caution, but also an encouragement to respect and appreciate humanities original mother whilst embracing and becoming aware of our own connections. I am interested in Ana Mendieta's practice, following an ideal of humanity reconnecting with our roots, specifically the feminine, and appreciating nature as a part of us, which she expressed by directly interacting with nature either with herself portrayed, or whilst remaining unimpactful to the environment, carving femalelike outlines into land.

 

Beginning by Sculpting, I created ambiguous human forms which I quickly adapted to a more feminist leaning direction in alignment with my research, depicting female bodied figures. My initial direction was sculpture, and sculpture having direct contact with natural elements, however painting became my preferred method of creating as to have more control over expressing nature as the more detailed entity, embracing the figure rather than the body being the clear focal point. This also allowed me to depict movement and life more efficiently with the background, rather than the direct stillness a sculpture provides when viewed. That being said, having experimented with sculpting I hope to incorporate more 3 dimensional elements into my work, alongside painting, possibly combining the two where appropriate.

 

 

 

References:

Just Stop Oil https://juststopoil.org/

Ana Mendieta https://www.anamendietaartist.com/