Entropy

Entropy explores decay and nature. Above each AI generated image is the prompt I used. There are a few notes under each image to help me keep track of what stood out to me most.

The prompt, "Entropy – the exploration of decay. Destruction as a mode of making. This could be relational to ecology, the body, society, religion, etc…" as a sculpture.

-interesting items, they are in the process of decay, they seem to be destroyed by time. 

-the rightmost image looks like a mushroom.

A fabric paper mache mushroom sculpture representing decay

-i like the use of different colored fabrics

A paper mache sculpture of mushrooms representing decay

-the paper alone looks a bit bland, the look more like sad eggs

A fabric paper mache sculpture of mushrooms representing decay

-these look more realistic, I am going for handmade and authentic

A fabric paper mache mushroom sculpture 

-I am liking the dots on top

A fabric paper mache mushroom sculpture.

-I like the use of vivid colors

Work in progress photos:

Final photos:

AI-Generated Artist Statement: 

As an artist, my current body of work explores the theme of decay and entropy through the medium of paper mache mushrooms with felt accents. These mushrooms are meant to represent the way in which fungi feed off of decaying matter, breaking it down and returning it to the earth.

Through the use of paper mache, I am able to create a textured, organic surface that mimics the rough and uneven surface of actual mushrooms. By incorporating felt accents in various stages of decay, I am able to evoke a sense of the natural cycle of life and death, where the old gives way to the new.

My intention with this body of work is to draw attention to the beauty in decay, and to remind viewers that the cycle of life and death is a necessary and natural process. I want to inspire viewers to reflect on the impermanence of all things and to embrace the beauty in the ephemeral.

Ultimately, my hope is that these paper mache mushrooms with felt accents will serve as a visual metaphor for the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of embracing change and transformation in our lives.

Personal Artist Statement:

    When I started generating ideas for this theme, I thought about mushrooms. Entropy is about decay and for some reason, I tied in mushrooms with this idea. I know that this fungus lives off of dining on decaying organisms. The aspect of something being able to thrive from decay was an interesting concept to me. The whole idea of nature and how everything is able to tie into one another is mindblowing. I made an aluminum foil base for my 7 mushrooms. I used regular white paper from the table paper rolls for paper mache over the aluminum. Various felt patterns are made to show different types of mushrooms displayed. I made each different because, in nature, nothing is ever perfect or the same. I then used silver metallic paint to cover the white part of the base. I realized I did not really love the look at first, but decided to keep my artistic process going. The felt has bits of paint as I glued on the pieces before painting. This effect of the imperfect and organic-looking sculptures is what I was aiming for. I reminded myself that nature is about the imperfections of the world and bends to nothing else. 

    Entropy, to me, is about nature and decay working together. Mushrooms live off of absorbing nutrients from other living organisms in nature. The mushrooms find animals or plants that are decaying (or sometimes still living) and thrive off of them. Some fungal species can live up to hundreds of years by simply leeching off of other organisms. Recently, I have been watching "The Last of Us" which is about a post-apocalyptic universe that inspired my work. An infection has spread throughout the world and infects people, turning them into zombies. After a certain about of years living with the disease, the cordyceps (a type of fungus) infiltrates the nervous system. The real fungus is named Ophiocordyceps unilateralis. This is real in our world today. It affects ants in a way similar to the show. When the ants are infected, the fungus grows through their whole body. After the virus has had time to grow, a mushroom will soon grow out of the ants' head like in the show. The only goal of the infected ant is to bite and transfer the disease to the rest of the colony. The ants also go crazy and can be found exhibiting strange behavior such as chewing on leaves or sticks. After knowing this information, I am terrified that this disease could mutate and infect humans. Apparently, it is possible but I am unsure how likely. In the show, the fungus was able to mutate into humans because of rising global temperatures. Our current world is getting hotter every day from global warming and this makes me wonder if our future of humankind is similar to the show. The human nervous system is affected by a growing fungus around the nervous system. This means the hosts' brain is still intact, they are just unable to control their bodies. The show is based on a video game where players can hear infected monsters sobbing as they attack other people. The people are in a way servants to their own bodies. The only goal of the cordyceps disease is to infect anything and everything else living. 

    The paper mache and felt are raw materials to me. I wanted to utilize the idea of making something organic. I intended to convey that these seven mushrooms are handmade. They are supposed to be imperfect and look like time and effort was a factor in creating them. Just like in nature, everything takes time and energy to make. Nothing is perfect in nature and there are so many variations of species and gene combinations. Like my mushrooms, no one is the same. Different shapes of felt make up the patterns on the outside. They are all tied together through the metallic paint. I want these fungi to look as if they come from another planet. These are unique creations, nothing looks quite like them in our current reality. I think viewers see odd mushrooms. They would ideally be seen in a forest or outside environment to provide some sort of context. They are meant to stand out from the rest of nature and depict individuality in the underlying theme of decay and nature itself.