This piece explores the ideas of change and whitewashing via the chapters ‘Animals’ (Vision) and ‘In Praise of Vanilla’ within A Natural History of The Senses.
My work depicts a traditional Chinese screen being drowned in white paint, spotted peppered moths sitting atop it. The spotted peppered moth is highlighted within the ‘Animals’ chapter, as this moth’s color has changed in order to adapt to a highly industrialized society. By including these moths as symbols for change, I intended to depict the increased whitewashing and minimalism of present day art/design. Through minimalism, culture is erased, just as through industrialization, white moths turn black. The ‘In Praise of Vanilla’ chapter prompted me to make this piece, despite limited correlation. The title on its own allowed me to interpret “vanilla” as plain, and reminded me that plainness is often valued in high society.
This idea is important to consider, as minimalism has the capacity to erase both past and present culture. Without culture, there is no uniqueness within society. There is no impact within art. There is nothing to remind ourselves of our history.
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