| The Anthropocene is a geological era in which human activity has affected the geological flows and forces to such a degree that one can't remove humans out of the equation. In the Anthropocene era, human beings will take an ever-increasing role in the construction or destruction of our environment. The power of archetypical images and figurative ceramic sculpture can be used to communicate the issues of water pollution, air pollution, and global warming. By combining the human form with images that explore the cause and effect of air and water pollution, this type of art illustrates the impact we are having on the environment. It reinforces the interdependence we have with the earth and the species that inhabit it. The choices we make as a global society impact the earth and all members of our earth community. One role of the artist is to visualize, imagine, and re-imagine our relationship to the environment, and encourage people to be aware and take action. In my thesis exhibit, I explored the use of child-like, female images as messengers of the impact of pollution on the environment. I examined the use of Earth Dolls as a potent archetype for communicating the impact of pollution on the delicate balance of the environment, and helping to motivate individuals and organizations to get involved and take action. |
