Class of 2016 Senior Art Thesis
Zoe Tessler
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ARTIST STATEMENT:
Phenology: An Intersection of Biology and Art
Scientists and artists alike seek to understand the world and clarify our purpose and position within it. As a double major in Art and Biology, I draw inspiration from my background in plant ecology. My studio work unifies botany and painting to explore human impact on the environment.
Flowering phenology, the study of cyclic and seasonal blooming patterns, is severely influenced by human activity. My works blur the line between digital and hand-made creation, compelling the viewer to attempt to distinguish the synthetic from the organic as we navigate a changing world. The printed and painted elements hold tension, simultaneously sharing and fighting for space. Paralleling reality, the synthetic elements interrupt the natural systems of the organic. Depicted at the microscopic level with their associated counterpart are clusters of pollen grains, a precursor of all plant life. Through the medium of floriography, the language of flowers, I send my regards to the ecosystems my footprint is set upon.
I thank the Steven Daniel Smallen Memorial Fund and the Art Department Fund for Seniors for their wonderful generosity and support.