Human consumption and the pleasurable obsession in the possession and collection of flora and fauna are major factors that have contributed to the extinction of many plant and animal species. Humans consider themselves the apex of the food chain, the “master’ species, decision-maker on which plants to extract, crossbreed, propagate, or control, and which animals to domesticize, clone, dissect, use for testing, kill or eat. As societies have become more advanced and complex, the human race seems to also have removed itself further from ecology’s natural design.
Clay is a material from the earth, closely associated with nature and the environment. Transformed by man into ceramic objects, it has been part of the material culture of many civilizations. Excavated ceramic artifacts since pre-historic times provide clues to a culture’s daily life, as well as shared attitudes and understanding of the world. Anthropomorphic sculptures show how humans in the past regarded plants and animals. In this same vein, Devour captures in clay present-day human attitudes towards flora and fauna, and the earth. Then and now, ceramic works are testaments to the relationship between humans, plants and animals, characterized by wonder, fear, desire, joy, domination and subjugation.
November 2017