Artist Statement for "Dawn/Dilapidation"

Next up: I am now focusing on my Dawn/Dilapidation project which has been generously supported by the Ontario Arts Council.

Artist Statement

Joyce Lau

  

Dawn/Dilapidation

Dawn/Dilapidation is a series of photo-based cut-outs that depict varying visions of creation and destruction. Within this theme, this project further delves into comparisons in the realm of the natural world versus that which have been manmade.

The beauty and complexity of the earth often identify creation, but simultaneously natural disasters also continue to ravage the world in ways which humankind is incapable of harnessing. Moreover, I want to explore the concept of creation in modern society, with notions associated to the phrase "playing god." For example, mules are considered a success story for the cross-breeding of animals, but these mammals continue to be unnatural due to their sterility.

In addition, on the flipside of creation, humankind has also generated many forms of destructive devices and demonstrated a plethora of cataclysmic actions. Modern technology has offered prestige and convenience, but it has resultantly often led to a hierarchy, and in extreme circumstances, the negative consequences have led human nature towards detonation.

The line between creation and destruction can also be deceiving. Certain ideas related to each polar opposite must be scrutinized, as creation can lead to destruction and vice versa. Moreover, I would like to identify examples of modern creation leading to destruction, such as with industrialized farming. Quantity is the emphasis in such farming habits, where the quality and life expectancy of the animals become neglected. The accidental development of Africanized honey bees (a.k.a. killer bees) is another exemplification of the adverse results of manmade creation.

Dawn/Dilapidation is a project designed to challenge our ideas of beginnings and endings. From an image of a dense green forest to the stark image of an empty room in Auschwitz, this series aims to compare and contrast knowledge exposed through science and learned through events in history to evoke contemplation on the philosophies of existence.