BENTON JONES
Artist Statement
Most recently I have been focusing on the state of our oceans in a exhibition entitled Ocean:Us. Ocean:Us is an analogy with many possible interpretations. To me it represents a vital connection between the world's oceans and our own well being. Ocean:Us can also be understood as the womb for all life, providing the ideal conditions for initial conception. In the context for this exhibition, Ocean:Us alludes to the individual viewpoints of three participants on the theme of "ocean" and makes reference to the wise Greek god Oceanus, a direct descendant of Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Heaven), often depicted as having a serpents tail and crab claws jutting from his forehead.
Over the last several years, I have had the opportunity to ruminate on each of these interpretations, realizing a body of sculpture that ranges from representational to sublime. My hope is that this body of work will contribute to growing environmental awareness which, if pervasive, could help steer our trajectory toward a more sustainable approach to living, a thoughtfulness that acknowledges the value of unselfish behavior by striving to find balance with nature.
The ocean is our lifeblood, producing most of our atmospheric oxygen, while absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Our oceans harbor the majority of Earth's species, providing theoretical insights to the origins of life, and if managed properly, can also provide a healthy and sustainable source of food.
Ever since we looked back down on our blue earth from space, it became clear that we are part of a singular living organism. A giant cell that maintains balance through a network of gradually evolving and interconnected species, each striving to keep pace with planetary cycles on a macroscopic scale. Every species represents a continuum of successful living, persevering over billions of years, and tied to a singular unifying ancestor. In this way, the health of humanity is unavoidably linked to the vitality of living Earth, sustained by a web of genetic diversity and sickened by sudden changes to the environment.
Object making is my way to celebrate the beauty described by nature, while it also serves me as a powerful spatial forum, helping to cerebrate the questions paramount to the future health of Ocean:Us.
Over the last several years, I have had the opportunity to ruminate on each of these interpretations, realizing a body of sculpture that ranges from representational to sublime. My hope is that this body of work will contribute to growing environmental awareness which, if pervasive, could help steer our trajectory toward a more sustainable approach to living, a thoughtfulness that acknowledges the value of unselfish behavior by striving to find balance with nature.
The ocean is our lifeblood, producing most of our atmospheric oxygen, while absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Our oceans harbor the majority of Earth's species, providing theoretical insights to the origins of life, and if managed properly, can also provide a healthy and sustainable source of food.
Ever since we looked back down on our blue earth from space, it became clear that we are part of a singular living organism. A giant cell that maintains balance through a network of gradually evolving and interconnected species, each striving to keep pace with planetary cycles on a macroscopic scale. Every species represents a continuum of successful living, persevering over billions of years, and tied to a singular unifying ancestor. In this way, the health of humanity is unavoidably linked to the vitality of living Earth, sustained by a web of genetic diversity and sickened by sudden changes to the environment.
Object making is my way to celebrate the beauty described by nature, while it also serves me as a powerful spatial forum, helping to cerebrate the questions paramount to the future health of Ocean:Us.
