Karla Nixon
Working Title
The Fragility and Ephemerality of Life
Artist Statement
My work explores the fragility and ephemerality of life. Life is in a state of flux with change being the only constant. This creates a sense of insecurity and vulnerability in our daily lives.
Paper is central to my art practice; I make use of it as my primary medium whether cut, embossed or sculpted. As a medium, it refers to fragility and ephemerality. The fragile nature of paper allows for manipulation, giving it endless possibilities for change.
“they do not step into the same rivers. It is other and still other waters that are flowing”
(Heraclitus in Harris 2003:10)
Our ideals, viewpoints of the world, attempt to conserve the ephemeral. While change has always been an integral part of societal structures, and has rapidly grown with globalization, we still seek routine as a means to control our lives. This may be a tool to defend our culture in a world of multi-cultural influence or an endeavor at personal image. But, our ideals are in constant danger of disruption and change; they are fragile views of the world. Everything is constantly moving from one condition or understanding to another, nothing is in a static state, it either evolves or is entropic.
Research Question
How does one deal with the fragility and ephemerality of life?
Selected Artists:
Diane Victor and Peter Callesen
Diane Victor
Diane Victor (1964-) is a renowned South African artist. She is known for her prints and drawings. Her work deals with, issues of “personal and social violence to racial anxiety, corruption, gender inequality, economic exploitation and social commentary - in the new contemporary South African landscape post-apartheid” (Diane Victor 2013). In more recent works, such as her smoke drawings, she tackles issues of “the fragility of human life and the damaging physical and psychological interactions between people” (Diane Victor 2013).
Diane Victor, Smoke III, Single colour lithograph, 65 x 51 cm
Peter Callesen
Peter Callesen (1967-)is a Danish contemporary paper and performance artist. According to Nørskov (2009: 16) “faith, hope and failure” are the key concepts that Callesen investigates in his work. Callesen’s works have a ‘romantic vein’ that runs through them. “Callesen portrays the moment when dreams and reality meet. He creates pictures of the fantastic dreams of childhood and the meeting with the inevitability of reality” (Nørskov, 2009: 15).
Peter Callesen. Down the River. 2005. Acid-free paper and glue. 21 x 29.7 cm.
References
Images