ALICE BLACK GALLERY
Annie Trevorah - NATURE IS A CYBORG
Curated by Josephine Bailey
We find ourselves amidst the Anthropocene, a human-centered epoch where the myth of human superiority reigns supreme. For centuries, philosophers and humanists have propagated the belief that humans are the pinnacle of evolution, with all other life forms existing beneath us. Against this backdrop, British sculptor Annie Trevorah presents her major solo show, "Nature is a Cyborg," showcasing a series of new and archival sculptures. Steeped in bio-morphism, ecofeminism and a desire to re-address ecological harmony, Trevorah invites us to explore an imagined world where nature finally claims its rightful place at the forefront.
At the heart of "Nature is a Cyborg" lies a collection of five interactive eco-morphic characters, each imbued with other-worldly healing powers.
Luciferina: Inspired by the enchanting glow of fireflies, Luciferina harnesses the power of photosynthesis. This luminous plant pulsates with life, absorbing sunlight to project intense beams of light that both heal and defend. Its steel structure is flocked and embedded with blue quartz slices, Luciferina is a large, organic object, created with curvilinear lines, and soft use of colour. The object, or character, creates a welcoming environment and offers a glimpse into a future where nature and technology work in harmony.
Officina: Emerging from the depths of the apothecary's workshop, Officina is a ‘hermaphroditic sensual being’. The core of this character is healing. Crafted from steel and melted thermoplastic, adorned with remnants of a wasp hive, Officina exudes an intoxicating aura, offering olfactory solace and calm in a world otherwise besieged by chaos.
Mucro: An object born from juxtaposition, Mucro has a soft, organic and curved base, holding a terrifyingly sharp head-piece. Clad in steel and plaster, and then adorned with ostrich quills, this character carries with it fascinating formal qualities. Within this beast, Trevorah hides a fan which gently circulates, revealing it’s true calling - to purify.
Cacturon: A towering and vibrant object - Cacturon stands. Encased in an unnaturally bright orange, this character is perhaps the most obviously plant-like. Atop its six branches, resin lily-pads rest. Above these, found seed-pods, from Australia. Eerie in it’s simultaneous familiarity and strangeness, Cacturon’s role in Trevorah’s world is simply to repair. Close inspection reveals the inclusion of small water-fountains dribbling across the steel and resin structure.
RooIT: Rooted in the earth and connected to the rhythms of nature, RooIT embodies the essence of resilience and renewal. With a steel, foam and plaster make-up, RooIT is latterly adorned with a root-like exterior and crinolene fabric, spilling from its top like a humorous mop of hair. This character produces a sound, much like others in its family, whilst also emitting a fascinating and ‘nutritious’ fluid.
Throughout each of these five core characters, Trevorah incorporates a powerful commitment to sustainability and ethical material choices: Cacturon is laden with found plant-pods, Mucro with Ostrich quills, and Officina with the casings of a wasp hive. Juxtaposed to such organic materials are the sound, light and olfactory objects hidden within. These sculptures exist in a dichotomy - both natural and unnatural, they provide opportunities for self-reflection, but also chaotic futuristic humour. This family of beings are a fascinating insight into Trevorah’s own internal world.
Trevorah’s land of alien warriors, protectors and eco-feminist plants draws on the seminal work A Cyborg Manifesto by Donna Haraway. Within this manifesto, Haraway looks to the binary distinctions between human and machine, nature and culture, and organism and machine, advocating for a more fluid and inclusive understanding of identity and agency. In a similar vein, Trevorah's eco-morphic characters also blur boundaries: between human and non-human, organic and synthetic. Trevorah's characters embody Haraway's vision of the cyborg as a figure of resistance and transformation, challenging conceptions of power and agency in the natural world, and offering an imagined future of hope.
Predator 2, another key member of Trevorah’s universe, encapsulates these ideas further, not just in concept, but also in its cyborg aesthetic. This large, metallic and incredibly bulbous creature holds itself up on three spindly legs, and ascends sky-ward with an uncannily slender spike at its peak. Filled with holes, Predator 2 appears mysteriously light, creating a palpable sense of confusion and perhaps, even fear. In the artist’s own words, the sculpture is “at once both phallic and dentate’, defying subjugation, or even categorisation, from the gaze. Underneath the object’s belly, are three protrusions - the most obviously phallic reference of them all. Drawing on the history of herbal aphrodisiacs, and hinting and the role that plants play in eliciting sexual responses, Predator 2 offers insights into human-plant relationships. Encapsulating Haraway's concept of the cyborg as a figure of resistance and transformation, Trevorah uses Predator 2 to confront entrenched notions of human supremacy, inviting viewers to reimagine their place within the ecological web of life, and embrace a more fluid and inclusive understanding of identity and agency - something which resonates deeply with Haraway's own vision for the future.
Nature is a Cyborg serves as a testament to the transformative power of art in addressing pressing social and environmental issues. Trevorah creates an immersive universe in which we are encouraged to fully embrace ideas of hybridity, connection and respect. The anthropocene, in Trevorah’s world, is long-gone. Nature is a Cyborg asks us to do exactly that: forge new alliances and relationships with the natural world, to pave the way for a more sustainable, and ultimately equal, future.
Nature is a Cyborg is on show at ALICE BLACK gallery, in Fitzrovia. There will be a private view on the 28th of May, from 6-8.30 pm, with an introduction from Curator Josephine Bailey and Q&A with the artist at 7 pm. The exhibition will run until the 2nd of June and is open from 10-7.00 pm daily. Private tours with the artist can be booked on 07703 459494.
ABOUT ANNIE TREVORAH:
Annie Trevorah (b. 1959) is a British artist based in London, she holds a MFA from the Royal College of Art . She has exhibited widely, with solo shows in London, including Triffids, commemorating the 350th anniversary of Chelsea Physic Garden and participation in a wide range of group exhibitions, at Centro Culturale di Milano, Las Laguna Gallery (USA), and 67 York Street, London. This year she has been selected for the coveted Arte Laguna prize exhibition at Arsenal Nord, Venice. Trevorah's work has been recognized with awards such as the Chianciano Biennale 2022 Prize for Photography and Digital Art and the ICAC Art Critics Award. She has also been featured in prestigious art shows like the Chiaya Awards and the Aesthetica Art Prize, and named one of Artsted's '99 Future Blue Chip Artists – 2024'. Notably, Trevorah received a commission from Wandsworth Council in 2022 to create a public sculpture in Battersea Park and secured another commission from Fulham Palace, supported by Arts Council England. She is also part of the Kensington and Chelsea Art Trail 2024.