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The present work entitled “Dominion, Desire and Decor” is based on the interconnections and growing distance between nature and modern society’s artificial ‘nature.’ As forests and environments shrink we turn more and more to managed parks, reconstructed forests, birdfeeders, and butterfly gardens. We are more comfortable surrounding ourselves with objects that reflect nature then living in direct contact with nature. We are collectors. Nature as a force is not voiceless or powerless; it is more than an ‘empty canvas’ into which society and culture are constructed. I have reversed the theistic contention that humans have ‘Dominion’ over nature and the animal kingdom in favor of nature ruling the world. How we must live in a larger ecosystem then our own personal preserve (home) is a theme I examine. My imagery is conceptually-based inviting the viewer to consider issues such as encroachment, resource depletion, consumerism, defense mechanisms, surrogate desires, and preservation. Unexpected juxtaposition’s of perspective and color are used to fracture space, while superimposed line-drawing is used to bring the viewer back. Illumination’s importance is to extract an emotional bond between the subject and the viewer. It is my intent to engage and persuade. These techniques form pictorial bonds. For example, in “Trophy House” the ephemeral quality engages the viewer to address the journey from dollhouse to present day ‘mansionization’, including all the products contained and preserved within. I approach composition intuitively and adapt various pictorial illusions to make a statement. In “Treehouse”, the subject matter becomes story-like while directly examining the distance between native resource and the housing sub-division while examining who truly has dominion? With “Birdfeeder”, “Mantelpiece” and “Collector’s Rabbit” fractured space and surreal imagery the concept of ‘desire’ is visually more powerful. I have been looking to Thomas Knechtel, Julie Heffernan, 16th century Indian Paintings, the Illuminists, and Chinese scroll painting for my current inspiration. I am interested in how nature responds to our actions as a species. Our ‘Desires’ fuel technology, consumerism, and urban growth, and because of our needs we attempt to organize nature into something of our making, something “artificial” like our landscaped yards or plastic plants in the office. We surround ourselves with ‘Decor’, then discard it, and desire it again in a never ending cycle of desire. I imagine an environmental revolution and ask who will lead the new stewardship?
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