Moth Belly Gallery presents The Big Buffet In The Sky, a solo exhibition of new collages and mixed media papier-mache sculptures by San Francisco based artist Andrea Bergen. The show presents the artist's vision of a whimsical animal utopia in a world without humans.
About the Exhibition
The work in The Big Buffet In The Sky is set in the imagined transition from human society to the peaceful and abundant reign of the animals. The exhibition's title is a take on the expression used when a pet passes away and it is said they go to "the big farm in the sky." In the fantastical reality of the exhibit, the animals exist on a harmonious plane somewhere between the future, the afterlife, and an alternate dimension. Critters of all kinds including cats, dogs, monkeys, and pigeons chug soda, feast on junk food, and lounge under candy colored sunsets. As climate change and environmental destruction accelerate, the collages and sculptures offer a refuge in which nature has regained equilibrium and thrives once again.
Bergen has been developing her irreverent and intricately detailed world of animals for over a decade through collage and sculpture. In the collages, the artist aims to accurately replicate as many textures and objects as possible through the single medium of cut paper. The pieces are representational but have a hyper-colorful and dreamlike quality that pushes them into the realm of the surreal.
Artist Statement
My work is generally focused on domesticated and urban animals like raccoons, rats, pigeons, and possums that live in close contact with people. These animals' habitats have been most heavily impacted by human activity. As a result of this impact they have become dependent on humans for survival, they eat our trash and dwell in basements, attics, and sewers. In urban environments we are surrounded by animals but they often go unseen as they must hide to stay safe. The Big Buffet In The Sky is my vision of an idealized playground for these animals to experience the urban landscape without human presence. The pieces are an invitation for them to come out of the shadows and enjoy the bounty of modern convenience without threat. The work depicts the ensuing junk-food-fueled celebration of the wildlife as they freely cavort through the city and beyond reclaiming the landscape. - Andrea Bergen
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About the Exhibition
The work in The Big Buffet In The Sky is set in the imagined transition from human society to the peaceful and abundant reign of the animals. The exhibition's title is a take on the expression used when a pet passes away and it is said they go to "the big farm in the sky." In the fantastical reality of the exhibit, the animals exist on a harmonious plane somewhere between the future, the afterlife, and an alternate dimension. Critters of all kinds including cats, dogs, monkeys, and pigeons chug soda, feast on junk food, and lounge under candy colored sunsets. As climate change and environmental destruction accelerate, the collages and sculptures offer a refuge in which nature has regained equilibrium and thrives once again.
Bergen has been developing her irreverent and intricately detailed world of animals for over a decade through collage and sculpture. In the collages, the artist aims to accurately replicate as many textures and objects as possible through the single medium of cut paper. The pieces are representational but have a hyper-colorful and dreamlike quality that pushes them into the realm of the surreal.
Artist Statement
My work is generally focused on domesticated and urban animals like raccoons, rats, pigeons, and possums that live in close contact with people. These animals' habitats have been most heavily impacted by human activity. As a result of this impact they have become dependent on humans for survival, they eat our trash and dwell in basements, attics, and sewers. In urban environments we are surrounded by animals but they often go unseen as they must hide to stay safe. The Big Buffet In The Sky is my vision of an idealized playground for these animals to experience the urban landscape without human presence. The pieces are an invitation for them to come out of the shadows and enjoy the bounty of modern convenience without threat. The work depicts the ensuing junk-food-fueled celebration of the wildlife as they freely cavort through the city and beyond reclaiming the landscape. - Andrea Bergen
Moth Belly Gallery presents The Big Buffet In The Sky, a solo exhibition of new collages and mixed media papier-mache sculptures by San Francisco based artist Andrea Bergen. The show presents the artist's vision of a whimsical animal utopia in a world without humans.
About the Exhibition
The work in The Big Buffet In The Sky is set in the imagined transition from human society to the peaceful and abundant reign of the animals. The exhibition's title is a take on the expression used when a pet passes away and it is said they go to "the big farm in the sky." In the fantastical reality of the exhibit, the animals exist on a harmonious plane somewhere between the future, the afterlife, and an alternate dimension. Critters of all kinds including cats, dogs, monkeys, and pigeons chug soda, feast on junk food, and lounge under candy colored sunsets. As climate change and environmental destruction accelerate, the collages and sculptures offer a refuge in which nature has regained equilibrium and thrives once again.
Bergen has been developing her irreverent and intricately detailed world of animals for over a decade through collage and sculpture. In the collages, the artist aims to accurately replicate as many textures and objects as possible through the single medium of cut paper. The pieces are representational but have a hyper-colorful and dreamlike quality that pushes them into the realm of the surreal.
Artist Statement
My work is generally focused on domesticated and urban animals like raccoons, rats, pigeons, and possums that live in close contact with people. These animals' habitats have been most heavily impacted by human activity. As a result of this impact they have become dependent on humans for survival, they eat our trash and dwell in basements, attics, and sewers. In urban environments we are surrounded by animals but they often go unseen as they must hide to stay safe. The Big Buffet In The Sky is my vision of an idealized playground for these animals to experience the urban landscape without human presence. The pieces are an invitation for them to come out of the shadows and enjoy the bounty of modern convenience without threat. The work depicts the ensuing junk-food-fueled celebration of the wildlife as they freely cavort through the city and beyond reclaiming the landscape. - Andrea Bergen
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About the Exhibition
The work in The Big Buffet In The Sky is set in the imagined transition from human society to the peaceful and abundant reign of the animals. The exhibition's title is a take on the expression used when a pet passes away and it is said they go to "the big farm in the sky." In the fantastical reality of the exhibit, the animals exist on a harmonious plane somewhere between the future, the afterlife, and an alternate dimension. Critters of all kinds including cats, dogs, monkeys, and pigeons chug soda, feast on junk food, and lounge under candy colored sunsets. As climate change and environmental destruction accelerate, the collages and sculptures offer a refuge in which nature has regained equilibrium and thrives once again.
Bergen has been developing her irreverent and intricately detailed world of animals for over a decade through collage and sculpture. In the collages, the artist aims to accurately replicate as many textures and objects as possible through the single medium of cut paper. The pieces are representational but have a hyper-colorful and dreamlike quality that pushes them into the realm of the surreal.
Artist Statement
My work is generally focused on domesticated and urban animals like raccoons, rats, pigeons, and possums that live in close contact with people. These animals' habitats have been most heavily impacted by human activity. As a result of this impact they have become dependent on humans for survival, they eat our trash and dwell in basements, attics, and sewers. In urban environments we are surrounded by animals but they often go unseen as they must hide to stay safe. The Big Buffet In The Sky is my vision of an idealized playground for these animals to experience the urban landscape without human presence. The pieces are an invitation for them to come out of the shadows and enjoy the bounty of modern convenience without threat. The work depicts the ensuing junk-food-fueled celebration of the wildlife as they freely cavort through the city and beyond reclaiming the landscape. - Andrea Bergen
show less
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