Fragmented Nature: An Environment in Crisis
Location
FA-256
Department
Art + Design
Abstract
FRAGMENTED NATURE: AN ENVIRONMENT IN CRISIS Lauren Artarian Department of Art and Design, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625 Growing up in the city of Chicago forges a bond between a person and the environment that surrounds them. Becoming a part of a city’s collective identity establishes a personal connection to the quality of life, well-being, and possibilities for a sustainable future for the people in that community. The intersection of environmental issues in the city of Chicago and surrealist collage design creates a compelling dialogue that challenges conventional perspectives on both nature and art. Surrealist design will provide a unique lens to explore the realities we are contributing to and will assist in addressing the pressing environmental concerns in our city. Surrealist designs inspired by environmental issues will offer a comparison of the organic and the synthetic, combining the two to tell a story. These creations serve as visual metaphors, inviting viewers to reconsider their relationship with the environment and question the sustainability of their current practices. The aesthetics of surrealist design will amplify the urgency of environmental messages, encouraging viewers to engage with the subject by educating and provoking thought and emotion. Using collage as a medium will elevate the environmental narrative by highlighting our fragile habitat and navigating the aspect of time and consequence. Blending collage and environmentalism compels viewers to reflect on the surreal reality of our society’s dilemma. With each individual collage selection becoming a contributing element to the visual expression of our ecological crisis, animated components continuously morph and evolve to reflect the ever-changing nature of our environmental challenges. There will be balance between the surreal and the unsettling narrative by using symbolic elements to represent complex environmental issues that linger in the viewer’s consciousness. In this surreal narrative, the viewer is an active participant in interpreting the layers of meaning embedded in the collage. By inspiring a deeper, more imaginative approach to addressing the environmental challenges we face, the audience will gain awareness while also being impacted visually. By combining surrealism with reality, this exhibition will be a powerful means of communicating the urgency of environmental challenges to inspire change.
Faculty Sponsor
Lauren Meranda
Fragmented Nature: An Environment in Crisis
FA-256
FRAGMENTED NATURE: AN ENVIRONMENT IN CRISIS Lauren Artarian Department of Art and Design, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL 60625 Growing up in the city of Chicago forges a bond between a person and the environment that surrounds them. Becoming a part of a city’s collective identity establishes a personal connection to the quality of life, well-being, and possibilities for a sustainable future for the people in that community. The intersection of environmental issues in the city of Chicago and surrealist collage design creates a compelling dialogue that challenges conventional perspectives on both nature and art. Surrealist design will provide a unique lens to explore the realities we are contributing to and will assist in addressing the pressing environmental concerns in our city. Surrealist designs inspired by environmental issues will offer a comparison of the organic and the synthetic, combining the two to tell a story. These creations serve as visual metaphors, inviting viewers to reconsider their relationship with the environment and question the sustainability of their current practices. The aesthetics of surrealist design will amplify the urgency of environmental messages, encouraging viewers to engage with the subject by educating and provoking thought and emotion. Using collage as a medium will elevate the environmental narrative by highlighting our fragile habitat and navigating the aspect of time and consequence. Blending collage and environmentalism compels viewers to reflect on the surreal reality of our society’s dilemma. With each individual collage selection becoming a contributing element to the visual expression of our ecological crisis, animated components continuously morph and evolve to reflect the ever-changing nature of our environmental challenges. There will be balance between the surreal and the unsettling narrative by using symbolic elements to represent complex environmental issues that linger in the viewer’s consciousness. In this surreal narrative, the viewer is an active participant in interpreting the layers of meaning embedded in the collage. By inspiring a deeper, more imaginative approach to addressing the environmental challenges we face, the audience will gain awareness while also being impacted visually. By combining surrealism with reality, this exhibition will be a powerful means of communicating the urgency of environmental challenges to inspire change.