Claire Gavronsky

Holding our breath, 2017

This work by Claire Gavronsky is taken from her exhibition titled Speechless which explored the historical context and consequences of the Anthroposcene/ Capitalocene. Many artists, scientists, anthropologists and philosophers have over the past decade been trying to define and come to grips with finding appropriate languages to describe the implications of this new era. Some see it as yet another Western-centricity and colonial mode of representation while others see the possibility of it as a process in constant flux between the self, the other and the nonhuman.

Claire has traced the consequences of industrialization and colonialism from the 1800’s, through the Great Acceleration of the 1950’s to the present. The work reflects the exploitation and appropriation of natural and human resources and leaves us literally with the last man standing.

Speechless also however has a flip side, that of wonder when we are left silent in the face of beauty, empathy, the inexplicable and the beyond human.

To be speechless is also knowing when not to speak, when it’s time to listen and even perhaps disappear.