Natural beauty: Elaine Cameron-Weir’s sculpture evokes the animal world

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.’

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

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