4_Nesting Ground

NESTING GROUND Paper, screen –print inks, wicker basket dim.150 H x 80 W x 30 D Work is focused on how the problem with water hyacinth can be alleviated; in particular highlighting the natural habitat that must remain in order to attract the migratory birds. Water hyacinth is known to have a suffocating effect; thus the key to keeping a more stable environment lies beneath the surface.  The change in the oxygen levels of the water has serious consequences for the balance of underwater life.  Excess water-weeds kill and suffocate the fish population, however, weevils are hard at work controlling the plant growth and keeping the eco-system stable. The fragile nature of the eco-system is paralleled through the use of a delicate medium and structure in the paper sculptures. Laser cut shapes of plants, hyacinths, fish and pelicans are used to create sculptural forms reminiscent of sprouting seed structures and allude to images of growth through association with plant buds and roots. The use of repetitive imagery through joined paper shapes echoes cloning methods, prevalent in scientific experimentations used in regeneration methods.