Tethered
Session Title
Additional Abstracts
College
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Department
Fine Arts
Faculty Mentor
Claudia O'Steen, M.F.A.
Abstract
Tethered is a collection of prints and mixed media drawings in which I use flora and fauna to talk about the emotional similarities between humans and nature when confronted with death. Through this body of work, I explore my interests in using plants and animals as subjects, nature symbolism, and all things macabre. Although morose, death is one of the biggest ties that all living things have to one another. Many people believe that humans are the only living beings capable of understanding grief and the concept of death, but there is actually quite a bit of evidence to prove otherwise. In fact, many groups of animals grieve, even animal species that are not normally recognized as having higher levels of intelligence. There is something really fascinating and remarkable about the idea that we all have these shared feelings for our lost loved ones, and this concept of shared grief is what I discuss in my work. By using animal subjects to show some of the ways that both humans and animals deal with death, I aim to further push this connection between humans and nature. The central visual elements used alongside the animal subjects are flowers, organs, and cloth bindings paired with muted color palettes and organic textures and shapes. This creates work that feels natural as well as visually and conceptually dark. I achieve the textures in my mixed media drawings by building up multiple layers of dry and wet media including gesso, ink, charcoal, and colored pencil and I create an organic aesthetic in my prints by layering different processes together. All of these elements combined are used to further push the idea of a shared connection in both literal and symbolic ways.
Tethered
Tethered is a collection of prints and mixed media drawings in which I use flora and fauna to talk about the emotional similarities between humans and nature when confronted with death. Through this body of work, I explore my interests in using plants and animals as subjects, nature symbolism, and all things macabre. Although morose, death is one of the biggest ties that all living things have to one another. Many people believe that humans are the only living beings capable of understanding grief and the concept of death, but there is actually quite a bit of evidence to prove otherwise. In fact, many groups of animals grieve, even animal species that are not normally recognized as having higher levels of intelligence. There is something really fascinating and remarkable about the idea that we all have these shared feelings for our lost loved ones, and this concept of shared grief is what I discuss in my work. By using animal subjects to show some of the ways that both humans and animals deal with death, I aim to further push this connection between humans and nature. The central visual elements used alongside the animal subjects are flowers, organs, and cloth bindings paired with muted color palettes and organic textures and shapes. This creates work that feels natural as well as visually and conceptually dark. I achieve the textures in my mixed media drawings by building up multiple layers of dry and wet media including gesso, ink, charcoal, and colored pencil and I create an organic aesthetic in my prints by layering different processes together. All of these elements combined are used to further push the idea of a shared connection in both literal and symbolic ways.
