Octane
Acrylic on Canvas 
116 x 65cm
AR Reactive - 'Artivive App'
2023
 
umanity's attachment to the past is often manifested in the preservation of memories through cherished objects such as jewellery and trinkets. These artifacts, imbued with sentimental value, serve as tangible links to personal histories and collective narratives. By keeping these objects, individuals engage in a form of animism, endowing the inanimate with a life force connected to the memories and emotions they represent. Whether it's a watch passed down through generations or a photo from a significant event, these items become vessels of nostalgia, carrying the essence of bygone moments into the present. This practice of conserving objects as vessels of memory not only speaks to a desire for continuity but also reflects humanity's innate need to weave a narrative thread connecting past, present, and future. This phenomenon is demonstrated here as a fossil necklace, an artifact that encapsulates the essence of time and the preservation of the past. The fossil, a relic of ancient life, is transformed into a wearable piece, becoming both a testament to the geological history of the Earth and a personal emblem of connection to the distant past. A striking parallel to this concept can be found in the fossil fuel industry, where ancient biomatter, preserved beneath the Earth's surface, is converted into a revived form of energy that powers engines and machines in the modern era. In this destructive industrial context, the remnants of prehistoric life take on a new role, symbolizing a cycle of re-animation. The fossil fuel industry, in a devastating ironic twist, becomes a contemporary manifestation of animism.