| My MFA thesis work functions at the interface between Conceptual Art and Conservation Biology. Sub-themes within this work include:;1. Otherness and the Animal. I'm interested in the presence/depiction of non-human entities in fields like wildlife art. I discuss my ideas on what constitutes a respectful/open exploration of the non-human, with examples from my own work and from other artists.;2. Absurdity and Tension in the Human-Environment Relationship. Human beings continue to push ecosystem function and evolution in unsustainable directions. A subset of my work engages with these scenarios both literally and metaphorically.;3. Reconciliation Art. An emergent body of art practice seeks to create site-specific works that interface with ecosystem function. Again, I discuss the history of this movement, with examples from my own practice.;In addition, I comment on my antecedents, and discuss my artistic progression from the standpoint of craft and media. |
