School of Art and Design Alumni Exhibition 2021

Wellington B. Gray Gallery

Michaela Watson
Graduated 2009

My ideas and forms are influenced by humans interacting with Nature. Observing Nature and how Nature changes as we take it apart and rebuild it to serve human needs. Humans have an innate need to custom tailor all things to their benefit. As humans, we value life on a scale of importance according to our rules not Nature’s rules. One example is the Tree. We do not live with the tree as it lives in Nature, we cut it down, make planks and recreate the tree into structures and shapes we prefer. Humans mostly feel everything on Earth exists to be re-created for a human dominated ecosystem. Considering a point of view other than ours to the variety of species we share this planet with, we choose to redefine the planet as our numbers increase verses working with the natural ecosystems that have existed long before humans became a part of it. We expect Nature to adapt and evolve to human requirements, what if it were the reverse? What would collaboration with other species look like? Re-thinking the Tree, how would we do it differently?

Gold on Porcelain, Porcelain Clay & 24K Gold, 11″ x 25″ x 21″, 2019