ABOUT THE ARTIST
Karen Lang's art and design pursuits represent her many interests and passions. Each of the areas is reflective of stages of her life, whether it be in the pursuit of creative expression, the learning of an new artistic skill set, or the ongoing quest to express herself through the art form. The focus of her work has evolved and diverged over time and includes painting, drawing, illustration, sculpture and film. Karen is also a published author and illustrator of the Martha the Mouse series.
Her film work documents her travel and the many fascinating people and adventures encountered along the way.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Nature + Nurture is my interpretation of our relationship with nature. The project becomes a statement about nature (literally and figuratively), natural change, and the outcome of imposed change, as a result of our interactions directly or indirectly.
Using fallen branches and bark of the Birch tree, pieces are collected, and then altered, based on a "perceived requirement", i.e. mending, assembling and embellishing. In some cases, it is a "process of repair" (the mending, weaving and re-shaping), that in subtle ways mimics our involvement and intervention in nature. In other cases, it becomes "transformative", where pieces are added to and created from unrelated sources. In a way, we are manipulating the environment in ways that may not be necessarily purposeful, and the outcome not necessarily certain.
In these efforts to help, repair, rebuild and alter we ask ourselves, is the outcome always predictable? Is it logical? Has the “intervention” resulted in the best possible outcome?
Each piece is an exploratory process of Nature + Nurture, with its unique characteristics unfolding as the work progresses.
These photographs, immediately and powerfully, bring these small sculptures to life. They magnify the beauty and simplicity, while reminding us of the complexities of our relationship with nature. They dramatically pull us in, and heighten our awareness on the impact we can make on the world around us, and the creative journey that it can take.