Origins
Evolutionary psychology, research into species evolution & the development of human culture, is translated into a work of speculative fiction where the human story is reimagined as a sculptural collage of porcelain.
Detail of Origins
Photo by Georgina Lohan
Fascinated by the endless variations in structure that they demonstrate. I began this project with an exploration of microscopic sea organisms called Radiolarians, creating a series of 4 large-scale porcelain sculptures. Together, they are Origins.
The Transformer
Photo by Georgina Lohan
Origins depicts humans as embedded in the natural world, of which they are a very small part, co-evolving with a myriad of other species. As our social complexity increased along with our numbers, and collective strategies for survival evolved into distinct cultures, we established special relationships with other species to further our survival. This work examines the mythologies of emergent cultures and questions how this may have affected our belief systems, habitat development and social hierarchy.
Origins II
Photo by Georgina Lohan
Utilizing the fragment, in the form of the discrete section, the shard, the component for collage, montage and its incorporation by various means into the composition of the sculpture, I continue to elaborate on elements connected to the mystery and sacredness of the natural world, diverse species & cultures, mythologies, the creation of artefacts and the representation of women.
Earth Energies
Photo by Georgina Lohan
Delving into archeological research provided an added impetus to the work. Whereas most archeological digs, carefully revealing then preserving dusty artifacts, fossils and bones are often stained by the earth in which they have lain, the archeological dig I was undertaking was a virtual site, buried in the mind. I wanted the richness of colour to convey a vital presence as if time itself had folded back to when the world was new.
The Oracle
Photo by Georgina Lohan
With this project, I continued the strategy of focusing on representations of women as powerful, diverse, and autonomous.
“The primordial deity for our Paleolithic and Neolithic ancestors was female, reflecting the sovereignty of motherhood. In fact, there are no images that have been found of a Father God throughout the prehistoric record. Paleolithic and Neolithic symbols and images cluster around a self-generating Goddess and her basic functions as Giver-of-Life, Wielder-of-Death, and as Regeneratrix.”
Marija Gimbutas
Origins Installation
Photo by Suzy King
Crocodile Mother