Pond Life : A Landscape of Sustainability for the Table

Abstract

The purpose of this written report of my thesis is to discuss the visual element presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Master of Fine Arts degree. The objects in this visual presentation address our habits of mindless consumption by referencing the decorative style of the medieval feasting table, while the idea of sustainable use and ecological stability is presented through the cohabitation of native and introduced species. The plant and animal forms in this presentation are linked to the idea of consumption through the reference of traditional food vessels and are presented not as static objects, but as vital beings. This combination suggests a landscape of coexistence between our agricultural practices and regional organisms, which will plant a seed of change in the mind of the viewer.