SARAH KNOBEL

Synthetic Nature

Minnesota, United States • sarahknobel.com

  • Synthetic Nature is a series of collages and photographs investigating new landscapes where the artificial and natural collide. I am specifically interested in containers; materials such as plastic and foam are the resources I chose to emphasize in this series. There is a focus on the longevity of these objects once their purpose has expired. What would a landscape created by these materials look like? How does do these substances potentially adapt? Fleeting use and disposal of these resources are at the forefront of many current discussions; for me, I chose to focus on the relics of my family's consumption, and its seemingly inescapable effects.

    Preoccupation with consumption drives me to explore these mundane remains that seem unremarkable at first glance. I question their metaphysical makeup, what they symbolize, and their existence beyond meager utilization. But I also take a closer look at the beauty in their distinctive form once their intended purpose of protection is completed. I create new compositions with these forms in mind and relate to our natural environments. I question how the imperishable relics will engage with our natural resources. Will this entangled relationship of natural and synthetic create a new ecosystem? This is at the core of my work that I'm curiously experimenting with and continuing to question.