Fine Arts
Shannon is an artist, scientist and conversationalist.
In her fine arts practice, she uses the mediums of video, animation, digital art and sculpture to present research-based commentary on biological issues. Her current work is a critique on animal meat alternatives from a world health and environmental standpoint but factors in. She graduated with dual degrees in Integrative Physiology and Fine Arts from the University of Colorado in 2022.
In her fine arts practice, she uses the mediums of video, animation, digital art and sculpture to present research-based commentary on biological issues. Her current work is a critique on animal meat alternatives from a world health and environmental standpoint but factors in. She graduated with dual degrees in Integrative Physiology and Fine Arts from the University of Colorado in 2022.
Oftentimes, as humans, we disregard the fact that life and living things are all around us. We default categorize the spectrum of nature as “the other" and then take advantage, manipulating the organism for personal, economic and commercial growth. We aren't very sneaky in our earth shattering methods either. Most frequently, the matter we demand from these “other” communities leads to our own demise, polluting our own living space and disposing of unused products we thought we needed. I have become fixated on the social, biological, public and personal implications of what an animal actually is.
My current work exhibits three main divisions of exploration: the first revolves around time as it exists on a chronological timeline. We often think of our lives as our past and present, but what about the future? That is as much a part of your chronological timeline as anything else. I chose to focus on the idea of timelines of life from beginning to end rather than momentary interactions. When we still have a long future ahead of us there are so many unknowns, purposeful or not which impact the future. Some of these timelines become entangled in other shorter timelines which forces the viewer to take a step back to consider the larger context and reflect on their own impacts on the lives of others. The second exploration is affiliated with how an animal is defined through social standards. For example, some humans believe that other humans are animals, while other humans believe that we are equal to all other beings in nature. And lastly, how an animal is defined through biological standards, for example, at what point is a cell or cluster of cells considered to be a living entity, and when is it too late to terminate a pregnancy?
These themes are manifested through sculpture, digitally manipulated images and distorted and dreamlike imagery within video animations. Objects such as clocks, eggs and flowering plants appear frequently in my work and are metaphors for the beginning of timelines or signaling the end of a timeline. While imagery of raw, hanging meat and awkward interactions or jesters leave the viewer feeling uncomfortable but yet wanting more.
These themes are manifested through sculpture, digitally manipulated images and distorted and dreamlike imagery within video animations. Objects such as clocks, eggs and flowering plants appear frequently in my work and are metaphors for the beginning of timelines or signaling the end of a timeline. While imagery of raw, hanging meat and awkward interactions or jesters leave the viewer feeling uncomfortable but yet wanting more.
