Artist statement

Humans have a compulsion to impose order over nature. What do our manicured lawns and neat garden beds say about humanity and our deep-seated fears? We strive for distinct boundaries, holding ourselves both above and apart from nature. Coastal mangroves are our blurry, transitional zones, routinely sacrificed to clean, white beaches and balcony views. Natural Disorder shows a woman tightly braiding her hair, representing the ephemerality of this delusion of control. The braids twist and transform into spreading mangrove roots, restoring the natural (dis)order. Nature mocks our neat borders and barriers, bursting from every crack and cranny in glorious untidiness.

Process

The bust was constructed from stoneware clay based on the form of the artist. Crackle glaze was applied and selectively scratched back to preserve the textures and lines. Mangrove roots were constructed from wire layered with air drying clay, then bound with raw raffia. These roots connect at the figure's hands to reveal our attempts to control nature despite being part of it. Our relationship with nature is complex; we must learn to work with it.

About the artist

I am truly passionate about sculpture. I have always enjoyed the unpredictability and physical process of working with clay. My love for clay goes back to my junior school years when I would take sculpture classes and would delight in seeing my work transform in the kiln into something new and exciting. Most of my inspiration comes from the nature within the Redlands area. Through my work, I explore the relationship between humans and the natural environment, looking at both the impact of humans on our environment and the deep-seated connections we have to it.