Karen Theisen

Karen Theisen’s sculpture sits at the intersection of nature and technology. “The uneven surfaces, edges and textures of the organic objects that I use in my sculpture are found in nature, while the shapes of the sculptures reflect machine-made, geometric structures.” She finds rocks to use in her sculptures on hikes in the American West in California and New Mexico. “Each rock is different from the next; no two rocks are the same. While the endless variety and individuality of each component piece in the sculpture provide an antidote to the uniformity and sameness of our machine-made environment, the geometric forms of the sculpture are based on a euclidean perfection found only in the man-made, technological world. My work attempts to reconcile, through the viewer, the opposites of nature and technology.” She continues, “Nature is the ultimate seducer. It’s sinuous lines and shapes, rainbow of colours, and variety of textures appeals to our senses and inspires us. I want my sculpture to inspire the viewer like nature does and also speak to the potential loss of the incredible beauty that surrounds us. As such, I strive to work in an environmentally sustainable way and try to make objects out of existing materials like rocks and recycled concrete rather than use new, manufactured materials that would have more environmental impact. Though the beauty of nature is a theme running through my work, it is at the same time subverted by its juxtaposition with geometric forms and saturated colours that reflect a digital aesthetics that create a tension between technology and the organic shapes and forms found in nature.”

See more from Karen at karentheisenarts.com