Fine art project “Is form the norm?”

Adapting to shape changes: nature, form, and environment

Adapting to changes in form is a process of environmental adaptation. What sets humans apart is the freedom to choose between a shaped or formless state, to alter a form, or to change the surrounding environment.

But is this normal?

The inspiration for this art piece came from gardening, raising the aesthetic question of what is considered beautiful —whether a fertilized and pruned ornamental plant or a tree growing freely in an unrestricted environment. The form of the same species can vary greatly depending on the purpose; it all depends on what we expect from the growth and where it thrives. The inherent originality and diversity of nature are expressed in every individual, with the environment determining the form.

Is form the norm?

This artwork explores the existential questions of being and appearance, reflecting on education and upbringing. Each unique individual exists in interaction with its environment.

Which influences which?

Is what we see the reality, or is it what we are allowed to see? Is everything immediately visible, or is there something hidden beneath the surface? How does the environment affect the observer or the observed? How does education shape us, and what norms do we have to consider in life? Is form the norm? What does society deem normal, and where do we draw the line in aesthetics? Should we follow socially approved conventions, or is the wild, self-growing nature more captivating?

Look, and you will see beyond!

2019, mixed media and technique, á 62,5 x 45 cm (1.97 x 17.72 in)