Urs Fischer
Swiss-born, New York based artist Urs Fischer creates a diverse body of work that spans across various mediums. However, Fischer’s ephemeral wax sculptures are a form of destructive art which undergoes a captivating transformation as time passes.
Illuminated by the gentle dance of flames, Fischer’s lifelike human wax sculptures gradually surrender to the passage of time, transforming into clumps and pools of molten wax. Sculptures are intentionally designed to evolve and melt throughout the entire duration of an exhibition, offering a thought-provoking commentary on the transient nature of art itself.
You can find more of Urs’ work on his website and Instagram.
Kelly M O’Brien
Kelly M O’Brien is a visual artist working mainly in sculpture and installation. Her work explores themes of care and repair related to climate change and biodiversity.
Using biomaterials, Kelly’s installations fall within a form of land art, made directly in the landscape by sculpting the land itself or by making structures in the landscape with natural materials.
‘Ecotopia Conversation’ is an outdoor installation in response to architectural ruins during Byrdcliffe AiR Summer 2023. Built with dry stone stacking techniques, Icast blocks of live mycelium are used to extend stone ruins in front of main residency hall.
You can find more of Kelly’s work on her website or Instagram.
Foka Wolf
Birmingham-based artist Foka Wolf, is a champion for the unheard, using his temporary street art to amplify their voices.
Boldly challenging the status quo, Foka injects his own political messages into the public landscape, altering existing advertisements on billboards, bus stop displays, and even health and safety signage. His subject matter delves into pressing issues like police brutality, climate change, corporate avarice, labour rights, and gentrification.
What sets Foka’s work apart is its controversial nature and the keen interest of art collectors seeking to acquire it. Consequently, his creations materialize and vanish in the blink of an eye. However, the impact of his work is anything but fleeting, leaving a lasting impression that resonates far beyond the momentary visibility of his ephemeral art.
You can find more of Foka’s work on his website and Instagram.
Scenocosme : Gregory Lasserre & Anais met den Ancxt
Gregory Lasserre and Anais met den Ancxt are two artists who work together as a duo under the name Scenocosme. They develop the concept of interactivity in their artworks by using multiple kind of expression : art, technology, sounds and architecture.
They mix art and digital technology in order to find substances of dreams, poetries, sensitivities and delicacies. ‘Kryophone’ is a sonorous and luminous interactive sculpture made of ice.
This interactive sculpture is composed with ice and reacts to the electrostatic touch of bodies. Sounds and light evolve according to the intensity of electrostatic contact. the heat of each touch will transform, influence slowly it shape. The work will slowly disappear, making it ephemeral.
You can find more of their work on their website or their Instagram.
Olana Light
Olana Light is a multidisciplinary artist based in Hampshire. Olana’s practice is based on sculpture, performance, and film. She makes immersive, disorientation, otherworldly installation and wearable sculptures which are the mythic representation of her worldview. In terms of ephemeral art, Olana’s work sits within performance. In this work, ‘Searching For A Place To Belong’, Olana is seen wearing a Eco-based wearable sculpture. It reflects the multiplicity of identity and the never-ending pursuit for belonging.
You can find more of Olana’s work on her website or Instagram.
Anya Gallaccio
British artist Anya Gallaccio creates minimalist installations made from organic material. Her art is a testament to the cycles of natural transformation and decay, where beauty and delight give way to decomposition and deterioration. In her work ‘Preserve ‘beauty,’ flowers gradually decay between two panels of glass, a striking illustration of this concept. Gallaccio’s creations possess a unique quality, persisting beyond their physical existence and leaving a lasting imprint in the memories of those fortunate enough to experience them.
Find out more about Anya Gallaccio here.
Roxie Netea
Roxie Netea is a freelance graphic designer who contracted the so-called “street art virus”. Taking over urban spaces, street art is seen as beautiful, but it is often remove quickly as some see it as destructive. For her work ‘City Mosaic’, Roxie creates a reflection of how people are too busy to visit a museum or a gallery. This urban intervention proposes a novel type of approach through which art takes a step towards the public and brings the art to the viewer.
You can find more of Roxie’s work on her Instagram.
Jon Foreman
Based in Pembrokeshire, land artist Jon Foreman crafts his creations using the earth’s material. Often, the weather and the immediate climate make Jon’s works ephemeral, as they are either swept away by the tide or scattered by the wind. Occasionally, interference from passersby further adds to the transient nature of his art. Foreman’s artistic range is vast; he might employ stones or driftwood to construct a small, minimalist piece, or craft expansive works that stretch along the coastline. Ultimately, his practice is a harmonious collaboration with the forces of nature itself.
You can find more of Jon’s work on his website and Instagram.
Melanie Jeffrey
Melanie is an artist who grew up in Northern Ireland. Her work centres around sustainability, with a focus on working with nature and natural resources whenever possible to create art that sits with nature and enhances its surroundings. ‘The Wisdom of Trees’ is a perfect example of creating ephemeral art in a sustainable way. Sage leaves are wrapped around a tree as a protective layer, but also in a way which represents wisdom. The leaves later dried up and died, reinforcing the impermanence.
You can find more of Melanie’s work on her website and Instagram.
Share
Authors
Bethan Jayne Goddard
