ARTIST BIO

In her art Shauna Peck uses of a variety of materials to show her insightful investigation of universal metaphors and contemporary narratives. Her art particularly emphasizes the interconnectedness between technology and the appropriated natural landscape, reflecting her deep engagement with these themes. She explores the intricate relationship between new technologies, the simulated world, and the disappearing natural landscape. Her work is characterized by a continuous experimentation with a variety of materials and mediums, which dominate the surface quality of her pieces. The sensuous nature of charcoal and the reflective attributes of metallic pigments accentuate her depictions of a vanishing environment. Peck’s attraction to using bee’s wax, bronze, and cement is driven not only by their tactile appeal but also by their symbolic significance. These materials serve to hermetically seal images from reality, conveying a desire to protect a vulnerable landscape. Often, she reveals only a glimpse of a landscape or form, highlighting the stark contrast between untamed wilderness and human development.

Through her art, Shauna Peck calls for a rethinking of our place in the world. She suggests that while technology may play a crucial role in preserving or replicating the natural world, it also raises questions about who will be the protected and the unprotected. In her art, Peck addresses the ecological crisis, which she believes has created new forms of inequality. In the current era of disinformation and extremism, she emphasizes the interconnectedness between the disappearing natural environment, social inequalities, and the fragility of democracy. The alarming rate at which humans deplete natural resources has exacerbated inequalities, raising questions about who will be protected in the future. Peck’s work also delves into the concept of the simulated world, where reality is often obscured by a hyperreal representation. She posits that humanity’s growing inclination to participate in a simulated world might contribute to a lack of concern for environmental preservation. This apathy towards the natural world poses a challenge to the struggle between protecting unspoiled landscapes and allowing for human progress. Through her art, Shauna Peck calls for a rethinking of our place in the world. She suggests that while technology may play a crucial role in preserving or replicating the natural world, it also raises questions about who will be the protected and the unprotected. This tension between safeguarding the environment and facilitating human advancement lies at the heart of her reimagined world.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

For the last decade my work has explored the relationship between new technologies, the simulated world and the disappearing natural landscape. My use and experimentation with a variety of materials and mediums-continues to dominate the surface quality of my work. The sensuous quality of charcoal and reflective attributes of metallic pigments, accentuates the depiction of a disappearing landscape. My attraction to the use of bee’s wax, bronze and cement, is not only appealing for its tactile quality; but symbolically conveys a reference to hermetically sealing the image from reality, suggesting the desire to protect a vulnerable landscape. Often, I reveal only a glimpse of a landscape or form. The contrast between the untamed wilderness and human development seems inescapable. The ecological crisis has created new forms of inequality.  Most recently, during the current era of disinformation and extremism; the relationships between the disappearing natural environment, inequality and how fragile democracy has been highlighted. The interconnectedness between social inequalities and the environment; can no longer be denied. The ability for humans to deplete natural resources at an alarming rate has contributed to inequality, regarding who will be -the protected. Further-we are living in a simulated world. A copy world. We may fade into the landscape-where there is neither the real representation nor the real remaining. Just the- Hyperreal. The desire and ability for humans to participate in a simulated world; may contribute to the lack of desire and apathy, regarding environmental considerations or a reimagined world. The struggle to balance -protecting the unspoiled and allowing for human progress, seems to highlight the need to rethink our place in the world. However, it will most likely be –technology that will contribute to preserving or replicating the natural world. Who will be the PROTECTED OR UNPROTECTED-will take center stage, regarding the struggle to balance- protecting the unspoiled landscape and allowing for human progress, in a reimagined world.