Box Gallery
By obstructing one's ability to get close to the fragment of the nature encased within, MossBox mimics our culture's dynamic relationship with the natural world. A desire to be close, yet a set of challenges established to keep our distance. This is achieved by the lens which teases the possibility of closer inspection, the dim LED light and sanded acrylic surrounds.
My artwork attempts at gaining a closeness with nature by exploring the relationship between people and their environments. With a background in photography, light remains at the core of my work as does the use of synthetic materials, especially plastic. I’m drawn to the innate quality plastic has in replicating natural substances, in addition to its translucency and versatility. Man-made objects used in multiples, also make frequent appearances in my work, mirroring our societal propensity towards a throwaway culture. These materials combined to discuss environmental concerns incite imagery that questions nature’s existence and mourns the loss of an environment where nothing is left untouched. Bachelard suggests in The Poetics of Space that by naturalizing man made objects, they become more relatable and comfortable. This may leave us with either a longing for the continued existence of nature, creating a compulsion for preservation or in a state of comfortable complacency. Barthes states in Mythologies that “Plastic’s real contribution to culture lies in it’s ability to be prosaic rather than luxurious.” My work aims to distill questions about the environment and society.
https://www.jacklynbrickman.com