Extractive Figures
Mining has seen a surge in activity driven by the growing demand for metals in smartphones and other electronic devices. Despite being touted as a greener alternative, the production process of all mining operations still results in significant ecological destruction. In creating ceramic tableaus using clay sourced from backyards and discarded porcelain figurines, highly textured glazes containing mine tailings and lithium oxide extracted from these mines are fired to a temperature of ^6. These artworks portray the broader environmental impact caused by the mining industry, including the contamination of air, land, and waterways with chemicals and heavy metals, as well as the destructive consequences of deforestation and wildlife disruption. By embodying these issues in tangible form, we are prompted to explore the repercussions of our choices on the environment and actively pursue solutions to mitigate further ecological damage.
Undoings: A Series of Remote Controlled & Obstacle Avoidance Bots
Programmed and remote-controlled two-wheel Arduino robots. Blending new technology with hand-built and found ceramics, these works can be taken into public space and handed over for others to drive and spin creating opportunities for social engagement. Works also can rest stationary on a pedestal or shelf.
Undoings #5 & #8
^2 hand-built and found ceramics with sculptural glazes. 11" h
Arduino Figurine Waltz
Arduino Porcelain Figurines Created during a CRETA Rome Residency in Rome, Italy. Inspired by Rome’s collision of the eternal and contemporary, found porcelain figurines are recontextualized and refashioned. As a result, their superficial nature is obscured. Placed onto remote-controlled Arduino platforms and driven in the street gives the figurines life beyond their mass-produced, static origins and reinserts them into the life of the city.
Special Thanks to the Piano Society for the use of Fredrick Chopin's Waltz in E-flat major recorded by Vetter, H.