Liz Larner, a California sculptor, has recently begun creating works that may seem strange and bizarre to many of us. By combining the breath of artists from around the world with plastic waste, she aims to create new visual and sensory experiences. One of her well-known works, titled 'Every Artist Gave a Breath,' was showcased in 1988 and has become an international artwork made from the bacteria of artists' breath.
Works from Breath and Bacteria
This piece, which was displayed at an exhibition in 2022, has undergone astonishing transformations. Some bacteria have turned into 'beautiful, colorful dry wafers,' while other plates have taken on dark black and mysterious green colors that convey a sense of fear and ambiguity to the viewer. Larner is known for her use of unconventional materials and incorporates hair, false eyelashes, and leather into her works.
Attractive and Threatening Plastics
In her first major exhibition in the UK titled 'A Hard Line to Bend' at the Camden Arts Centre in London, Larner created works that appear both attractive and threatening using single-use plastics. She states, 'At a time when China no longer accepted American plastics, I decided to bring these materials into my studio, and the volume became so large that I had to hang it from the ceiling.' This shift in Larner's art can be seen as a response to the environmental and social crises of today's world.
It seems that this artist, by using breath and waste, has not only created captivating artworks but also reminds us that art can become a tool for creating positive changes in society and the environment. Larner's works provoke thought and demonstrate how beauty and meaning can be created from unconventional materials and even waste.
