February 28, 2019
Andy Smith

The Frozen Textiles of Nicole Dextras

The frozen textiles in the outdoor installations of Nicole Dextras appear as reflections of the natural world. In her “IceShifts” series, her process has a particularly Victorian effect, as she replaces the head and extremities of a human with plant matter. The result is both haunting and elegant.

On the piece “Bouquet,” in particular: “This outdoor installation of ice-covered dresses was created to resemble an alluring bouquet of fantastical plant life summoned from the underworld. It appears out of the frozen earth like the mythical man eating trees of folk fiction. It has more in common with the Venus flytrap than the Valentine sentiment. In addition, the presence of women’s clothing also refers to the deep seated fear of the Man-eating female in science fiction and pagan myth.”

See more of her work below.

Topics

Nicole Dextras, outdoor installation, sculpture

3D-printing, Nicholas Crombach, sculpture

October 14, 2017

Whether rendered life-sized in resin and paint or smaller and 3D-printed, Nicholas Crombach’s figures explore our ties to the creatures of the natural world. The Canadian-born artist uses 3D printing as an extension of his past work and purpose, in a time when the contemporary tool is often used to create novelty items and irreverent, one-note sculptures. Services like Shapify have made the reaction of the human body a superficial process, while Crombach tackles something much older in nature.

Matthew J. Levin’s Mutating Statuettes

horror, Matthew J. Levin, sculpture, statuette

August 21, 2015

Alien meets House of Wax in Matthew J. Levin's melted, mutilated statuettes. The spine-chilling creatures have glistening skin stretching over elongated bones and folding over protruding ribs. Many objects appear organically self-actualized; as if the creatures emerged alone out of a solid substance. Though their appearances may be repulsive, Levin's method of positioning his small-scaled creatures in dance-like movements imbues them with a sort of grace and unearthly beauty.

Ornate Antler Sculptures by Shane Wilson

Antler Carving, carving, sculpture, Shane Wilson

May 12, 2015

Canadian artist Shane Wilson draws his inspiration from the nature surrounding him in north Ontario. In his artist statement, he writes, "I live through my hands and tools: transforming thick, heavy bone and bronze, meant for massive collisions, into ethereal, otherworldly creations; precious oases in the midst of life." Sourced ethically, his ornate carvings into animal antlers, particularly moose, are unreal. They balance the beauty of the animal with the severity and aggressive nature of the antlers' former life. With careful workmanship, Wilson summons tiny, peaceful scenes of Canada's wilderness, such as Grizzly bears fishing and wolves howling in the night.

Kunihiko Nohara’s Wooden Sculptures Consumed in Clouds

Kunihiko Nohara, sculpture, wooden

January 11, 2017

Japanese sculptor Kunihiko Nohara’s creations are often engulfed in clouds and mists, yet each is created with a single piece of wood. These pop-surrealist creations can vary in size, with some looming over passers-by and others small enough to be held. All evoke the viewers’ own dreams and fantasies, as they offer a portal into Nohara’s own.

The Frozen Textiles of Nicole Dextras

Nicholas Crombach’s Sculptures Explore Human, Animal Ties

Matthew J. Levin’s Mutating Statuettes

Ornate Antler Sculptures by Shane Wilson

Kunihiko Nohara’s Wooden Sculptures Consumed in Clouds

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