Practice

Since the early 20’s, my work has been inspired by crystallography and mineral unit cells (the smallest repeating unit that defines the crystalline structure of minerals). Over time, this has evolved into a focus on rocks, a complex aggregate of minerals. My practice has focused on enhancing nature. An idea that started from the process of crystallization, where, when ideal conditions are found, a crystal can grow indefinitely to produce a perfect version of itself. Only an outside influence is capable of deterring the crystal from fulfilling its destiny: lack of sustenance, heat, pressure, or space. At the heart of my artistic exploration is a central question: Is beauty more valuable than utility, or does its allure stem solely from its aesthetic presence? I use this analogy, paired with the idea that we prefer something because it is beautiful rather than because it is useful. Initially, this idea was illustrated by pairing homemade gemmy crystals with bone, another crystalline substance that is more durable and arguably more useful, but that also evokes repulsion and disgust. This evolved further into creating gemstones out of cardboard. ‘Flatpack Gems’ are paper, coloured with pencil, folded into a known gemstone cut, three-dimensional with a planar back. Again, to encourage the viewer to consider the value of a pristine paper gemstone, making an otherwise inaccessible item something attainable for the everyday person.

Series