Lauren Pitson
‘I Peel Into Other Vessels’ - Lauren Pitson, 2023
Lauren Pitson is a multi-disciplinary artist based in South Wales.
Her practice and research are predominantly influenced by thoughts surrounding impermanence, ecology, and the form. Lauren’s work combines alternative processes of collecting, deconstructing, and reprocessing materials in order to document and explore these connections.
I met with Lauren to talk about her work, and here's what I learned about her Art.
What is your practice?
The current practice explores the concept that everything is intertwined in a continuous network of regenesis. As a visual response to Timothy Morton’s concept of ‘The Mesh’, the body of work focuses on the idea of perpetual life cycles that come even after death. By combining bio and eco materials, the current work acts as a reminder of the impermanence of all biological matter.
You decided to grow an organism as part of the series. What correlation does it have with your work?
Throughout the progression of the project, I was trying to physically communicate the concept that all human and non-human life are connected in an ecological entanglement. Following this I wanted to incorporate a biological material that can be grown, dried and revived into the final piece as a demonstration of impermanence, symbiosis, and renewal of life cycles after death.
Using a living organism as an accompaniment to your work is something I’ve not seen before; you’re bringing life to the work in many ways. What are the images that are found within the organism?
The images are twelve documentations of microscopic examinations of bone structures, fungi, and specimens that were undergoing or had undergone varying stages of decay.
Is the cycle going to continue and you allow the work to decay and follow the pattern that your work follows? Or is it going to be preserved as an endpoint to signify the end of the series?
I haven’t experimented with the material life cycle yet, so I’m unsure how its decomposition process will be after drying. But it would be interesting to expose it to the elements and document it.
I think the series, in some way or another, will always continue. As the concept explores a constant continuation of cycles and interconnectivity, I believe there will always be a new aspect to be introduced and experimented with.
What’s next for you?
At the moment there isn’t anything lined up for the near future, but I’m hoping this year will bring in some fresh opportunities to experiment and hopefully collaborate.
‘I Peel Into Other Vessels’ is currently on show until 12th January at the Alex Design Exchange in Swansea.
