Artist - Benjamin West
These Thoughtful, abstract collages by Benjamin West bring attention to various contemporary socio-political issues, such as: pollution, urbanization, genetic modification and the industrialization of the natural landscape.
Benjamin West - Genetic Future
Benjamin West’s work takes full advantage of the joyful, provocative, and visually exciting potential of collage using nature as his main inspiration. His practice examines our ever-changing relationship with nature, and investigates the consequences of human activity upon our surroundings.
West’s professional background in graphic design and photography shines through in his careful selection of image combinations. What West leaves behind from these practices, however, is the digital. Despite his work’s slick and blemish-free appearance, West does not use computers to edit his compositions.
Benjamin West - Genetic Future
Benjamin West - Genetic Future
The hands-on nature of West’s work (collecting natural source materials such as flowers, hand-cutting images from physical printed sources) demonstrates the influence of a key art historical movement: the Arts and Crafts. Just as with West’s work, the Arts and Craft movement of the 19th Century laid emphasis on ‘artist as craftsman’, hands-on creation, and the rejection of machine manufacture.
The influence, too, of Dada, is evident in West’s work. West’s compositions tackle contemporary socio-political issues, such as genetic modification, pollution, urbanisation, and the industrialisation of the natural landscape. Dada shared this observational discourse, critiquing through fantastical satire the issues of post-war 20th Century Europe.
“The process of collage lends itself historically well to the act of protest and dissent in an increasingly industrialised and uncertain world”.
Much of West’s work focuses on the divide between the natural and the mechanical. For example, in this Genetic Future series of mechanically doctored flowers in which isolated pieces of machinery cleave through images of the natural world.
Whilst his work possesses a playfulness, it is also West’s intention to communicate a serious environmental and political statement.
Benjamin West - Genetic Future
Benjamin West - Genetic Future
View more of Ben’s work on his website and Instagram!