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Procession - Artist Statement

As a biologist and a gardener I have always been passionate about all kinds of life forms, and plants especially. Naturally this passion has found a way into my art practice. I have made ceramic installations and series that dealt with the extinction of species, the destruction of nature and the climate emergency. I created ‘Procession’ as an opportunity for silent contemplation on where we are and where we want to go, to leave adversity for harmony, chaos for balance, despair for hope.

‘Procession’ starts with the fall-out of bad climate choices featured as an ‘Empty Nest’ and an abandoned ‘Temple in the Woods’ surrounded by ash and cement. It ends with ‘The future is green’, 6 wooden panels containing greenery, a gate way to a harmonious existence. They are flanked by two hanging vessels, the Gate Keepers.

The core of ‘Procession’ consists of 8 ‘Flower Girls’ and a ‘Holy Receptacle’. The Flower Girls are hand-built stoneware vessels with sculpted flowers attached to the white surface. Being a metaphor for innocence and fertility they are the serene guardians of the Holy Receptacle, an elevated stoneware bowl decorated with golden leaves of the gingko tree. The gingko is considered sacred in South East Asia. The leaves contain medicinal compounds that could enhance cognitive brain function, memory and overall well-being. Throughout the centuries the gingko has widely been seen as a symbol for longevity; a tree can live up to 2700 years. In addition it is also seen as a symbol for resilience and inner strength; it can adapt to difficult growing conditions. In fact, the origins of the gingko date back to prehistoric times. It is the oldest deciduous tree alive today. Finally, the gingko represents hope for it even survived the atomic bombing of Japan in the second World War.

Hope is a driver for positive change. On a small scale this change is already happening. There are attempts to re-grow coral in protected containers and repopulate bleached coral reefs, as shown in ‘ICU’s’. There are efforts underway to restoring and maintaining life supporting habitats for a multitude of species, expressed through ‘Habitat’. Positive change is carried by ‘The Followers’, a multitude of small vessels carrying life bouquets of flowers, the supporters of green, and eventually by the towering overgrown ‘Houses of Different colours’, the powers that take a genuine interest in supporting life.

Having witnessed several religious processions in Belgium for the blessing of the fruit blossoms in my home town, as well as funeral processions, I have learned that processions command respect. In Egypt I saw evidence of processions bringing statues of the gods and goddesses from one place to the other in celebration of their attributed powers, to parade prisoners to the king, or to bring the deceased to a place where they have everything they need to enter the afterlife, rituals that lasted for thousands of years. Processions have an impact.

When I created ‘Procession’ I envisioned a ceremonious walk towards a better future in honour of the force of life, which is sacred to me.

Additional dates to meet the artists Renée Butler & Clifford George on October 21st & 22nd

Show on display in gallery until October 30th

Congratulations to Maurice Dionne on his 1st prize win at Art’s Ottawa East!

 
 

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