Brandon Ballengee
While Iori Tomita creates beautiful translucent specimens of sea creatures, Brandon Ballengee has chosen to focus on deformed amphibians.
From the artist statement:
Since 1996, my transdisciplinary practice has bridged primary scientific studies with ecological art and engaged environmental stewardship. Underlying my practice is a systemic methodology, which posits art practice as a means of realizing research science, and vice-versa. Inherent to this working method is an impetus for “ecosystem activism” implemented through participatory biology field investigations and laboratory programs that stress public involvement – my attempt at social sculpting. My artworks come from direct experiences with amphibians, birds, fish and insect species found in today’s preternatural ecosystems and those observed in post-natural laboratory settings.
There is evidence that the growing occurrence of amphibian birth defects comes from contaminates in the chemical runoff of man made facilities. I deeply respect Ballengee for using art to evoke awareness and empathy for these creatures.
Now, via an enzymatic process and re-coloring, we can see the beauty of these creatures that tend to be largely ignored by humans.
June 22, 2014 at 7:44 pm
Amazing, didn’t even know that could be done.
June 22, 2014 at 8:59 pm
Ohmygosh, and blimey! (and I’m sure other, much more eloquent expletives are also available) -Nx