The ways in which contemporary art has reflected the concept of ‘eco-’ can be observed through the various genres related to the ecological. The genres of eco-related art such as land art, environmental art, ecological art, ecofeminist art, crop art, and Ecovention have been classified and expressed differently according to each standard, as if similar. It has been divided according to detailed criteria such as using nature, urging action for the environment, equating nature with humans, or observing ecosystems. The artists within the categories of eco-art share a passion for the environment and for ensuring that the natural is observed in the context of humankind.
In this September issue, Superglue intends to break down the subdivided genre of contemporary art related to ‘eco-’ and penetrate it as a standard. The criterion is the relationship between humans and non-humans. It expands the concept of micro-eco-s such as nature, environment, and ecology to the concept of non-humans, and examines eco-Art that can emerge through this concept. In this September issue, artists from London, Geneva, and Seoul, who pay attention to the unexpected relationship between humans and non-humans, will be introduced.
Courtesy of the artist and Photo by Alice Lubbock
Nature flows through the narrative creations of Orfeo Tagiuri, conversing with the man made, the heavenly and the absurd. Having first studied creative writing, Tagiuri found his artistic inspiration on the streets of New York, on which lie myriad objects forgotten by some, but transformed by others. Seeing these objects across the city, between the great museums of modern art inspired the artist to begin his artistic practice, during which he has spent time in acclaimed Parisien art bookshops and studying for a Master’s at the Slade School of Fine Art in London.
Tagiuri uses his experience to create stories and characters that are being challenged at the boundaries of their existence, voicing insecurities and imbalances in his surreal work. He tests out the relationship between the man made and the natural through these characters, uncovering the imbalance between them. Tagiuri’s practice hinges upon the use of wood, as he delicately carves out the scenes of his work onto table tops, pieces of fallen trees or wooden chairs. In this exclusive interview, SuperGlue will find out more about his work, how nature courses through his pieces and how he sees the world around him.
Courtesy of the artist
Nature also plays an important role in the research-based practice of Anne-Laure Franchette. Through her installations, which bring organic and synthetic elements into dialogue, the Zürich-based artist explores the interrelation between natural environments and industrial and urban spaces. We learn more about Anne-Laure's work and her current projects in an insightful interview.
Sunho Lee, Orthodox Hybrids (2021), AI collected data(by BigGAN), QR code.
Sunho Lee, SIRENS (2021), SLA Resin, Metallic paint, 5x15x17 / 15x15x16 / 14x16x16 / 4x7x7 (cm) each.
Courtesy of the artist
Seoul-based artist Sunho Lee pays attention to the relationship of new ecosystems that unexpectedly arises amid technological advances. The artist, whose work is inspired by Earth's creatures and ecosystems, sci-fi fantasy, and a variety of stories based on them, depicts a new ecosystem that can be created in a virtual space using her formative environment and presents it as an independent story. She extends the relationship between humans and non-humans to the virtual world beyond the real world we currently exist in and pays attention to unexpected phenomena that can occur through technological development. In addition, the artist uses various technologies such as virtual space, AI machine learning, and AR to express works based on multiple media such as installation and printmaking, materially expressing the versatility of her narrative. This September issue of SuperGlue is accompanied by an interview with artist Sunho Lee, and through conversation with her, it highlights the relationship between humans and non-humans that can arise newly in contemporary art.
Stay tuned for our weekly articles,
Keep it glued.
