Scott Elk
Desire Lines - Original Glazed & Boysenberry Swirl, 2022.
Stoneware ceramic
21cm x 11cm x 15cm

This works came from wanting to explore the figure in an abstracted way, while playing within the visual language of my ring forms. Here the figure is made from stacked wheel thrown rings, combining to make a loose torso, and a head, as the rings get smaller towards the top.

DETAIL:

Desire Lines

The majority of work produced in 2022 falls into my Desire Lines series of paintings, drawings, and ceramics. The series is about human connection, relationships, and momentary physical interactions.

A desire line, is a term often referred to in urban or transportation planning, as a path created as a consequence of human traffic. The path usually represents the shortest or most easily navigated route between an origin and destination. It is the way taken by choice, by desire, and by necessity when following the heart. It is movement with intention.

In a real world practical application, the desire lines have the possibility to connect people resulting in events along a time line. I see people as these spinning vortexes of energy, in a positive sense like galaxies spinning and reaching out, and in contrast, negatively sucking everything towards themselves like black holes spinning. When two of these things collide, wondrous and unexpected things can happen; colours swirl, planets could be flung out of orbit, or set in a new orbit, momentarily or until the end of time. My interpretation of these desire lines is constantly searching to insert the human element of connection into fragmented, and abstracted forms.