Abbey Kuhe
Visually and conceptually my work is inspired and informed by myriad resources, from the intersections of social and climate justice to the golden age of children’s book illustration; from biophilic philosophies of biology to 19th Century textile design; from divine feminine mythologies to 16th century scientific expedition illustration. Throughout, I explore these tensions in the relationships between humans and our environments, using narrative and history of the human struggle to differentiate from as well as connect to nature.
I love the act of creating in clay as metonym for this struggle. It is of the earth and yet it is absolutely civilized. It is literally extracted from ancient alluvial deposits and is utilized in some of the most esoteric rituals of our species. And porcelain, in particular, references some of the most crucial moments in our histories of technology, industry, and colonialism. My hope is that the technique of sgraffito lends itself to an inclusive visual vocabulary in exploring these themes. The act of scratching into a surface in service of communication is one we even share with other species.