Flux of Loss

Exploring the idea of a landscape in a constant state of change, the work Flux of Loss (2020) presents the volatile and fleeting nature of life in an environment facing ecological upheaval. The initial idea for executing this work was sparked through a studio experiment with alternative presentation modes in which the forms broke free from the canvas frame. While the early trial utilised two dimensional photocopies as a ‘short cut’ to testing my idea, the ultimate aim was to give the work a more three-dimensional quality, thereby activating the space further still. The medium I chose was soft sculpture from cloth, essentially creating animal dolls. To visually activate their surfaces and amplify the illusion of movement, I came up with a method in using milk, acrylic paint and detergent marbling that could capture an irregular spotted pattern, reminiscent of a marine creature’s skin.

By reimagining marine life in the current desert of Kerman, with this work I respond to the loss of life and habitat for creatures in the face of climate change. At the same time, I reflect on my long-lasting fascination and reverence for the marine world. The mythical aquatic creatures in this work form a disembodied shoal, alluding to the inconceivable history of aquatic life in the contemporary Lut Desert. I aimed to visualize the ancient living history of the area hidden beneath the ocean of sand and release it onto the walls of the gallery.