All photographs by Danika Zuks
Artist statement from catalogue:
‘Amalgam’ is a celebration of interconnectedness amongst the chaos, where no piece is greater than the sum of its parts. Crafting this work has immersed me in a dream-like flow state, allowing for rumination on deep time and its reflection in materials. Working with an array of found objects, such as metals and stones, pearls and bones, I feel as if I'm time-travelling, journeying from the depths of our earth to the expanses of space, from the micro to the macro. How did all of this come to exist? How was it made or composed? What is newness? Where will these materials be once I’m gone?
During the creative process, I reflected on my underlying concerns surrounding consumption, material hierarchies, and the perceived value of resources. The anxiety I feel, that we humans are rapidly eating through the planet's resources, continually mined, melted, mixed: made new again and again. A machine that won't stop making. In response to these concerns, I slow down and focus on what's available in my surroundings, and what hidden objects can be given life. I observe closely, touch, and play with different materials, questioning their origins and contemplating their longevity. Through the making of ‘Amalgam’, I endeavour to honour the human labour and environmental energy invested in these earthly resources.