‘Sulci Fungi’ Artists Statement
‘Sulci Fungi’, Ruby Udys, 2021, 50cm x 70cm, oil on canvas. (Available for sale: https://www.rubyudys.com/product-page/sulci-fungi )
Dream Scented Rushes was the third exhibition I have contributed my artwork to as well as my third effort as assistant curator in collaboration with curator and artist, Azzurro.
I am so thankful for the experience and for having Azzurro trust me in the curation process, its an art in itself!
I'd like to share my artist statements, along with the artworks I contributed to this group show. The artist statement is detailed below.
The indentation lines on a brain are called, ‘sulci’ or ‘sulcus’. The biggest sulci on our brains separates it into two halves. The raised part of the brain is called a ‘gyrus’. To me, while I’m relatively unfamiliar with the terms, sound like components to a sci-fi narrative. The form of our brains with their organically fortuitous sulcus’ are capable of amazing things. Fungus has insighted curious theories, including Terrance Mckenna’s ‘Stoned Ape’ theory. Wherein, “psilocybin mushrooms (magic mushrooms) were the "evolutionary catalyst" from which language, projective imagination, the arts, religion, philosophy, science, and all of human culture sprang” (Appendix II: The Stoned Ape Hypothesis.)
Radiotrophic fungus was found with the ability to turn radiation in Chernobyl into energy. Mushrooms interact with their environment so cleverly; their diverse form is so intriguing too. Its understandable that fungi or toadstools are so prevalent as imagery in fairy tales etc.
The shapes and purpose of both brains and fungi are, upon further inspection, otherworldly. These globules that we live among, fungi and brains, grasped my imagination for this piece, to create a Wonderland that is unfamiliar, yet entirely reflective of our present reality.