These miniature environments are meant to appear as if they were ecosystems "contained” inside of a defined and controlled space. Each box is made from reclaimed wood that have been weathered and treated to emulate the processes and visual effects of decomposition and decay.  They are made up of a variety of materials such as fibers, metal, gems, and paper, and are made using methods such as burning, felting, and dyeing.

 

Created as a continuation from my body of work, Re-Wilding, they are inspired by the visual aesthetics of dilapidated, abandoned barns, silos, sheds, and other man-made edifices that we might see along rural highways and country roads. Overgrown with weeds and eroded by the elements, these dilapidated structures are a visual reminded of nature’s capabilities to reclaim what was once unaltered by humans. Their presence is the evidence of human existence and tells a story of a species that has completely transformed the contemporary landscape.

 

Each box contains rich textures that look like natural forms made from man-made materials. Synthetic products look seemingly organic, and organic materials are carefully constructed to create architectural interiors. The visual combination of forms that appear to have evolved over time made using industrialized products are seductive, and their opulence suggests an otherworldly biome. My dioramas are windows into these hypothetical worlds where biomatter may or may not be organic and are a physical speculation of what one might find in a futuristic planet.