ARTIST STATEMENT
Hormonal Growth Promotant critiques contemporary societies' acceptance of food modification. Through scientific advancements, animals have been chemically modified and diets altered to create optimal products. However, often these advancements don't consider the ethical implications to the animals' lives or the impact on our bodies. The clay cow bust is made of multiple clays; while the initial sculpting is completely controlled, the sculptures' reaction to firing was uncontrolled, symbolising human intervention and the implications of disrupting the course of nature. These imperfections caused by the firing are unhidden and make the audience understand the impact science has had on food production.
ARTWORK PROCESS
The bust was made of a combination of three clays, terracotta, white earthenware and buff raku. The clays were cut into various size slabs and joined together. This formed the base of the sculpture. From this base I began carving away to form a saddled a back and hump using the removed clay to sculpt the face. The face and hump were designed to counterbalance each other, allowing the bust to stand freely.
A natural pit firing method was used for 27 hours to finish the sculpture using ash to create more distinctive marking on the hump, nose, and eyes.
