Caroline Smith + bio | statement | press

My work explores interpersonal aggression and vulnerability through anthropomorphic ceramic sculptures. I call these creatures Chimeras, for they are agglomerations of all forms of life and the visual expressions of my dream of helping people to connect each to other and nature. They are portraits of others, of myself, of my inner anxieties and regrets, implying human emotion through their movement without direct reference to the human form. By removing outwardly distinguishing barriers of society, class, race, gender, age, religion, nationality, and circumstance, the commonality of experience remains, and our prejudices cannot limit out capacity for compassion and empathy.

The abstraction of individuals can allow for great injustice, aggression, and violence to be perpetrated, but it can also show universal connections.  Forcing the viewer to relate to an inhuman creature and playing on the uncomfortable edges of what separate “Us” from “Them,” reminding us that we too are part of nature, and our actions are not without consequences.

The Chimeras are fierce, with spikes, claws, teeth, and layers of built-up defensive mechanisms, meant to keep others at a distance, but also have delicate interiors and details to draw the viewer in -to look closer, to be closer, to share. Bone is the symbol of strength and fragility; bone, like clay, is strong, but not unbreakable. They are what define the body, but are never meant to see the light of day, exposing the vulnerability of life.  The steel wire is a foreign element brought in to repair the damage, and hold the remaining pieces together, showing how life seeks to persevere and adapt to circumstance.

I work in clay because of its ability to take on any form. Clay is one material that can become weathered wood, rusting steel, or soft aging skin. It is sensitive to every touch and will show marks accordingly. Working in clay is also important to me for its historical connection with the development of civilization. It is the earth put into service and lasting record of the day-to-day existence of mankind. Its strength comes from fire and reminds me that often our strength often comes from enduring hardship.