Catch/Trap

Abstract

This work began as an exploration of technology that is timeless but forgotten or ignored, though still poignant and useful today. Nets are ubiquitous, made and used by humans worldwide throughout history. The net can trap prey, carry goods, or be used as a safety device; it is both threatening and comforting, a duality dictated by the intention of the maker. The formal qualities of these works are underlaid by questions about the implications of technological discoveries, like the net or the farm, that pushed civilization towards industrialization and capitalism. What is the result of a culture that hurdles forward through time, not looking backwards for inspiration, advice, or direction? What is the outlook for a culture that does?