SOLO EXHIBITION
SOLO EXHIBITION
SOLO EXHIBITION
The World's Leading Contemporary Fine Art Gallery
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The World's Leading Contemporary Fine Art Gallery
Casper
Clifford
USA
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“Creating a unique, and immersive narrative through the versatile medium of clay is essential for my intricate, and thought-provoking sculptures.”
Casper’s work is inspired by the dark, and sometimes malevolent depths of subliminality within society, which is often overlooked due to its normalization. The inherent sterilization of humanity, which comes with the necessity of self-marketability, creates a mold that keeps many people from having the ability to express themselves in a way that reflects their actual identity.
This piece from the installation "Lead Us Into Temptation" represents the sin of Wrath. While she may be intimidating to those around her, the bravery she shows comes from a place of love, to protect those around her.
Clifford delves into the caverns of the human psyche, creating ceramic animals and metaphors that bring these pieces of our personality to the light, and give the repressed aspects of ourselves a chance to be seen and celebrated. Their work proves the complexity of people’s personalities by emitting any judgment of morality on what may be found within them, giving the viewer the floor to come to their own conclusions about what is presented.
This piece from the installation "Lead Us Into Temptation" represents the sin of Gluttony. He indulges in a honeycomb snack, while bees take out their aggression on his face. While he seems not to care, he is unfortunately allergic to their stings. Despite this, he enjoys his delicious meal.
They believe that experimentation plays a tremendous role in the sculpting process and ensures that each piece has its own individual personality. There will always be new tools and techniques to use and learn from within the world of ceramics. Having found ceramics in 2021, and graduating from Salisbury University with a Bachelors in Fine Arts degree in 2023, Casper had found the best medium with which to pursue their artistic career.
“I take a deep interest in the intricate details which bring these pieces to life.”
Casper finds that it is important for a person to lose their grasp on comfort in order to learn from others and allow each other to explore their own individuality. The parts of a person, that they keep hidden are always going to be an integral part of who they are, and to be open to understanding and learning from them will bring a better appreciation for the people in general.
“I have always enjoyed creating but found that the two dimensions put limitations on the way I was able to express my ideas. Through the process of molding and shaping clay with my hands, I found that those limitations had been lifted.”
Casper’s installation titled “Lead Us Into Temptation” depicts the Seven Sins, not as a force of pure evil, but as representations of the parts that a human being manages to keep hidden from the world. Thoughts, feelings, and emotions guide the perception of reality, whether we like it or not. These elements live within every human being, and avoiding them completely can lead them to develop a sense of self-hatred.
This piece from the installation "Lead Us Into Temptation" represents the sin of Pride. She also represents the queer community through her mane. To this lioness, her vanity also serves as a form of self-love, and carries herself with dignity.
“I aim to help develop a better understanding of the complexity of these ‘sins,’ revealing that although there are negative connotations associated with each one, these are simply aspects of our personality that, in moderation, should be embraced.”
This piece from the installation "Lead Us Into Temptation" represents the sin of Envy. Meant to interact with Greed, it desires the others' golden eggs, while failing to find compassion for its own. Envy, while showing neglect for its own belongings, is always looking for improvement and forward progress in life.
This installation takes on a playful atmosphere, with some interacting with each other to further the narrative of their cohabitation within the viewer’s minds. For example, Envy desires the golden eggs held by Greed while its own are decrepit, and have been neglected. Envy is not portrayed as evil, but as someone who wished for more than life could give them.
This piece from the installation "Lead Us Into Temptation" represents the sin of Greed. he carries his golden egg with a sense of accomplishment, yet the concept of sharing what he has with Envy, is blinded by the need to keep his belongings to himself.
Gluttony is enjoying a nice piece of honeycomb, without a care in the world about the bees that sting his face, never mind that he has an allergy to them. While Gluttony should pay attention to the possibility of a life-threatening allergic reaction from the bees, he represents the innate need of every living being for a little indulgence.
This piece from the installation "Lead Us Into Temptation" represents the sin of Sloth. Coupled with the additional elements of wood and crochet to form their hammock, Sloth is unbothered by the scene going on around them. Sleeping away in their comfortable habitat, they find peace in their dreams, while having no awareness for their surroundings or anyone else's needs.
While Wrath may seem intimidating at first glance, her bravery is desirable to Lust right next door, who cares very deeply for her. Lust herself is portrayed as a kind rabbit with intense feelings that are nothing to be ashamed of or hidden away. Rather than being pushed aside as a pervert or someone in wrong, she represents just one of the forms in which affection can be manifested.
This piece from the installation "Lead Us Into Temptation" represents the sin of Lust. She subtly interacts with Wrath, as she is interested in her bravery. Lust is overcome with emotions, and is portrayed not as perverse or predatory, but as just another way that we can feel and show affection for one another.
“The constant misconception of my identity, often to no fault of anyone else, has led me to have a guarded sense of self, often needing to put on a disguise for others’ comfort.”
This piece from the installation "Lead Us Into Temptation" is displayed in the center of the composition just above Sloth, as a window into the world around them. The scene is meant to imply the complexity of the sins, with the golden framing at the top giving the appearance of heavenly purity, signifying their heartfelt intentions, while the cold sharp mountains and twisting trees contrast as the darkness and depravity that is commonly associated with them.
Casper’s journey through the gender binary and out the window has brought them to consider personal identity on a deep level. They find that being non-binary leaves everything to interpretation, and most commonly, that interpretation is not reflective of their own experience.
This sis an installation view of this project. Additional elements provide further context and intricacy in to each piece.
The experiences of the artist influence their work, finding pieces of themselves that exist deep down, that don’t fit the mold that society has built up, and creating a narrative where they can be heard. They believe that the parts a person keeps hidden are always going to be an integral part of who they are and to be open to understanding and learning from them will bring a better appreciation for the people around them.
This bonus piece separate from the installation is a wall hanging gestural study. The fierceness of the panther is offset by the comfortable stretching gesture a house cat would find themselves in.