Ariel Bowman
Slays King, Ruins Town, 2019
Ceramic, mixed media
20 x 16x 15 "
I make sculptures of prehistoric animals that represent the wonder to be found in natural history. I am intrigued by animals that evolved with distinct features, such as unfamiliar tusks,...
I make sculptures of prehistoric animals that represent the wonder to be found in natural history. I am intrigued by animals that evolved with distinct features, such as unfamiliar tusks, strange elongated limbs, and unusual proportions. I use clay to bring these extinct creatures back to life, sculpting folds of flesh and filling their bellies with air.
Eighteenth century French decorative objects inspire my displays and elements of each sculpture. This time period represents the rise and inevitable fall of human civilizations, while the objects reflect the decadence and everyday escapism of the Rococo style. The picturesque aesthetic of the eighteenth century refers to a time when our relationship to nature was being expanded by scientific discoveries yet separated by the disappearance of wild places. The goal of my work is to change the way natural history is perceived, by combining the picturesque and rococo styles with prehistoric creatures.
Eighteenth century French decorative objects inspire my displays and elements of each sculpture. This time period represents the rise and inevitable fall of human civilizations, while the objects reflect the decadence and everyday escapism of the Rococo style. The picturesque aesthetic of the eighteenth century refers to a time when our relationship to nature was being expanded by scientific discoveries yet separated by the disappearance of wild places. The goal of my work is to change the way natural history is perceived, by combining the picturesque and rococo styles with prehistoric creatures.