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Venus Over Los Angeles has opened an exhibition of new work by the Canadian artist Elaine Cameron-Weir. Weir, born in 1985, is known for her interest in the natural world and her sculptural work is often described simply as ‘cinematic’.
This new body of work expands upon this interest and its reinterpretation with industrial materials. Entitled ‘Snake with sexual interest in own tail’, the exhibition is a union of seemingly opposing themes within a single object.
The work itself is intriguing and complex. A six-foot-tall curved abode wall is adorned with neon sculptures and a series of hanging works (made of small hand cut copper ‘scales’, individually enameled) are fastened to a length of a chain metal screen. Next, a stainless steel hydrotherapy tub is filled with white sand, and atop sits a ‘lead jacket’, made from sheets of solid lead and steel wire. As a grand finale, a terrazzo stone desk in two parts is cut to resemble a large set of butterfly wings topped with neon lights.
‘The wings of a butterfly are both a mirror to each other as well as the operative mimic of the prey the insect seeks to evade; the linear, nearly total spine form of a snake and the central clefts of the human body; a clam shell opening,’ says Cameron-Weir. ‘All interest me as markers for the idea of halves, parts that make up a larger system or of aspects of an unseen symmetrical whole.’
A close-up reveals the level of detail in each Snake Piece, featuring small hand cut copper ‘scales’ that are individually enameled
A six-foot-tall curved abode wall is adorned with Weir’s Threshold neon sculptures, made from stainless steel, laboratory hardware, clamshell pair, sterling silver, rearview mirrors, neon light, mica and frankincense
The wings of a butterfly; the central clefts of the human body, a clam shell opening: ‘All interest me as markers for the idea of halves, parts that make up a larger system or of aspects of an unseen symmetrical whole,’ says Cameron-Weir. Pictured: a detailed view of Threshold
A grande finale comes in the shape of a terrazzo stone desk in two parts cut to resemble a large set of butterfly wings topped with neon lights. Pictured: Sentry Tactical Like Prey with Evolutionary Eyes of a Predator on the Wing 2, 2016
Metaphor, 2016 (pictured) comprises a stainless steel hydrotherapy tub filled with white sand; atop sits a ‘lead jacket’, made from sheets of solid lead and steel wire
INFORMATION
’Snake with sexual interest in own tail’ is on view until 30 April. For more information, please visit the Venus Over Los Angeles website
Photography courtesy of the artist and Venus Over Los Angeles
ADDRESS
Venus Over Los Angeles
601 South Anderson Street
Los Angeles, CA 90023