Anthropocene

26 x 62” ‡‡ Wood / Concrete / Metal / Paint / Neodymium Magnets

Humanity’s impact on the planet is never far from Curran’s mind. The specter of environmental degradation and a warming climate linger around the periphery of much of his art, and in “Anthropocene” he allows the issue to take center stage. The dramatic image of a shovel caught in concrete, inches from the wood buried underneath, stands as a monument to the newest epoch of the Earth’s history — one in which humans and our activity have reshaped the foundations of the world. Perhaps the shovel is a party to the burying, or perhaps it was caught in a desperate attempt to undo the damage done; either way, the concrete has set, our bed has been made, and the Anthropocene has already begun. Throughout his work, Curran often asks his audience to look at things anew; here, he implores us not to look away from all that we’ve wrought.