Mindy Mulders
The Forest High School
'NATURE IS NOT CRUEL, ONLY PITILESSLY INDIFFERENT' - RICHARD DAWKINS
Sculpture
Sprayfoam, ceramic, acrylic paint, cardboard
My body of work explores the self destructive nature of humans, and the indifference of the natural world, forewarning the event of human extinction if we continue to act on naive desires. Taking inspiration from the Chernobyl disaster, I use the gruesome subject matter of a tree slowly subsuming a person, bark gradually replacing skin and limbs stretching out with the roots to reinforce the notion of an indifferent natural world. A thriving forest, vivid green tones throughout and an abandoned nuclear generator symbolise how despite destructive human forces, nature will continue to reclaim and renew, erasing marks of human folly with its relentless resilience.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Greg Nicotero, Garret Kane.
Marker's Commentary
Nature is not cruel, only pitilessly indifferent - Richard Dawkins is an ambitious and thought-provoking sculpture that invites viewers to engage deeply with themes shaped by interest in global environmental issues, a conceptual intent that resonates throughout the work. The title, a quote from the renowned British evolutionary biologist and zoologist, encourages audiences to explore interpretations that extend beyond a dystopian future.
Viewers are prompted to reflect on the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world, with the artist suggesting that nature ultimately prevails. This idea is powerfully expressed through various layers of visual language. Forest regrowth envelopes the industrial bunker in the background symbolising resilience, while the foreground features the successful hunt of a feral cat alongside gnarled bark that appears to entrap a figure within the tree stump, evoking a sense of struggle and entanglement.
The sculpture's meticulously crafted composition skilfully merges complex three-dimensional forms with sensitively painted elements, showcasing a sophisticated understanding of traditional and postmodern materials and techniques including ceramics, spray foam and found objects. The attention to detail serves as a unifying quality, with the rich textures of fur, bark, gravel and grassy forest creating an aesthetically captivating experience for the audience. Although the material practice may evoke the charm of storybook illustrations, upon closer examination, the composition reveals opportunities for a more nuanced interpretation, hinting at darker connotations for humanity while simultaneously offering a glimmer of hope through the delicate sliver of sunlight depicted filtering through the trees.