"Often, themes of time, degradation/expiration, class level and beauty are approached and speak from my influential experience from lower middle class," notes artist Kelly Grace Sullivan, whose innovative and thought-provoking antfarm-meets-fashion-accessory is an actual blue collar inspired by its figurative counterpart. Crafted from acrylic which is cut by laser and then heated and bent, it is filled with a blue gel that provides a colony of harvester ants with over six months worth of nutrition, water and space to tunnel. What fascinated her in particular was the way the small creatures organize their elaborate colonies and divide up their labors. "Researching and spending time with the materials, I found that the necklace is a visual representation of my experience of coming from a blue collar community."
Indeed, what I find so fascinating about this piece is the clever way it encapsulates notions of organized destruction and decay. As they blithely go about their business, the ants are systematically consuming the very grounds that sustain them. The same way we two-legged members of the human colony seem intent on doing to our home planet. Plus there's also a punk-rock edge to the look of the piece that is very cool.
- Lesley Scott
The decay theme of this endeavor is very congruent with the vibe of the Apocalytical fashion tribe. For more of my posts about the Apocalytical tribe, CLICK HERE. To learn more about each of fashion's four mega-tribes that I track, START HERE.
