Katie Paterson, 〇 I, 2023

2023

Medium

mixed media using pigment ground from the fossilised forms of the first cellular life on earth

Dimensions

53.1 × 53.1 cm

Edition

series of 6 plus 2 artist proofs

Status

In Gallery Collection

Collect24 Art ID

C24-154897

A series of elemental paintings takes the form of circles, globes or planets, which are made from pigment derived from materials that embody the physical essence of our world and its origins. The circular format serves as a symbolic pinhole, offering a glimpse into a landscape lost through the passage of time. These works invite reflection on the deep connection between the Earth’s material history and the present moment, encapsulating the very forces that have shaped our world. 〇 I uses pigment from the first ever fossilized cellular life, while 〇 II is made from the ashes of over 10,000 tree species. 〇 III incorporates sand from every desert across the Earth, and 〇 IV uses pigment ground from the fossilised remains of life over billions of years. 〇 V employs salts collected from evaporated oceans, and 〇 VI is made from pre-solar dust; the oldest material to exist on Earth. 〇 VII uses pigment made from the ingredients of stars, and 〇 VIII is ground from the remains of prehistoric seas. 〇 IX incorporates materials from drawn from the Earth’s strata, from core to surface, and 〇 X is made from the building blocks of human life.