Matthew Sugarman - Fine Art Printmaker

Nature and Allegorical

A number of the works in this section are meant to praise the metaphysical beauty of nature while making a visual and conceptual statement concerning the innate elegance and majesty of one particular aspect of it. Other works from this section are presented as social commentary. For example in the work “Bow”, an ethereal horse bows down before mankind, the caretaker of animals in biblical mythology. As he bows down to us, do we feel worthy of this respect? I believe that, religious or not, some of us feel guilty of having failed in our roll as caretakers of nature. The allegorical works in this section are often narrative and use animals to stand in for people in making statements concerning human nature.

It is an irony that mankind is of nature, but proves to see himself above it. With the aid of science mankind selfishly devours nature, while acting out complex ego and identity issues. As science continues to increase mankind’s power, nature’s dependency on human beneficence and wisdom for its survival increases. Science has done little to circumvent current threats to the stability of nature such as species extinction, depletion of natural resources, and escalating pollution. We knowingly engage in the devastation of this unique and irreplaceable natural world. Are we like Icarus who in being unhappy with being merely a man endeavored, with the aid of science, to be like a God and perished while flying too close to the sun?