Sophy King and John-Paul Brown
About Sophy
Sophy King is a multidisciplinary environmental artist, investigating the climate crisis, human and non-human ecologies, geological time and socioeconomic histories. She examines these through site-specific installation, sculpture and audiovisuals, using living elements, organic and man-made materials.
Originally trained in 3D Design she worked as a glassblower, art fabricator, set-builder, prop-maker and Landscape Architect whilst winning commissions to create art in the public realm around the UK. She developed her studio practice further with an MA in Fine Art at MMU in 2019 and a bursary to explore filmmaking from the Liverpool Biennial, since when she has been exhibiting and making site-specific work nationally and internationally.
About John-Paul
John-Paul Brown is a British visual artist interested in the conditions that create generational loops in class. His work is a cumulative investigation into the interconnectedness of Earth system science and the human extraction of natural resources, making connections between the everyday and geopolitical climate complexities.
Focusing on methods of low carbon art-making and material choices, his practice involves documentary photography, expanded drawing and sculptural installation. He combines research with personal experience to create layered narratives of our world today and promotes positive discussion about the roles artists can play in tackling the climate crisis.
@johnpaulbrown_
About Sophy’s work and John-Paul
The Guardians of Living Matter considers the nature-technology continuum, proposing a journey into the distortions of new worlds.
Natural order and deep time become sliced into nonfacts and speculative fiction. As artificial intelligence’s deconstruction of human history unravels before our eyes, we offer an ambitious, experimental insight into multidimensionality.
The gallery becomes the installation, bleeding through other areas and the wider environment. The interdimensional spaces describe nature and technology coming together/moving apart. The show contains living, natural and man-made materials, including audiovisuals and information exchange, making connections between the Wood Wide Web and AI. It asks questions about our collective decision-making, identities and heritage.
Between the history of human impacts and the future of autonomous intelligence lies our presence as guardians to the continuation of living matter. We are the connectors between the Wood Wide Web, the mycorrhizal network, and the balance of Global food chains; and the observers of the days of future past.
“We are delighted for this opportunity to evolve our artistic partnership as the Guardians of Living Matter. Developed With programme provides us with an ideal platform to reach new audiences and scale up this ambitious project. Thanks to this curatorial support and being part of a new artistic cohort our exhibition will offer audiences a series of reflections on our roles as custodians of this planet.” – Sophy King and John-Paul Brown