Scott Elk
Desire Lines - Museum Station, 2022
Stoneware Ceramic
82cm x 42cm

‘Museum Station’ is a stoneware ceramic artwork from my ‘Desire Lines’ series which delves into the intricate dynamics of human connection and the profound impact of physical interaction. A desire line is a term often referred to in urban or transportation planning, as a path created as a consequence of human traffic. It signifies not just a path of convenience, but a manifestation of intention, desire, and the compelling force of human interaction.

In this series, I aim to capture the essence of how people navigate through physical and emotional landscapes, forging connections that shape their experiences and identities. I envision each of us as dynamic centers of energy, akin to celestial bodies in the universe—spinning, attracting, and sometimes colliding.

Through my ceramic work, I seek to encapsulate these collisions of energy and the resulting kaleidoscope of emotions and events. "Museum Station" embodies this concept by abstracting and fragmenting forms, yet always searching for moments of human connection amidst the chaos. The swirling colors and forms in the piece symbolize the transformative power of these interactions—moments when new orbits are set and unexpected beauty emerges.

As I set the glazes to mix and melt in the kiln, they interact in ways that are sometimes unexpected, creating unique patterns and textures. This parallel between the firing process and human interaction underscores the beauty found in spontaneity and the potential for new connections to emerge from seemingly random encounters.

Ultimately, my art is a reflection on the interplay between individuals and their environments, capturing the essence of desire lines as pathways not only of physical movement but of emotional resonance. ‘Museum Station’ invites viewers to contemplate the intricate web of connections that define our lives, prompting reflection on the profound and often unpredictable effects of human interaction.

DETAIL:

Desire Lines

The majority of work produced in 2022 falls into my Desire Lines series of paintings, drawings, screenprints, and ceramics. The series is about relationship to place, connection to people, and the sometimes intoxicating, head-fucking connection of physical interaction.

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.