Jon Clements
I was fascinated by Cicadas as a child. I have clear memories of their defenceless nature, beauty, prickly claws, and fine delicate wings - all observed in immediate detail while kept as pets unknowingly sentenced to shortened lives in makeshift cardboard houses.
I continue to be interested in the potential of architecture to explore a symbiotic relationship with nature through close observation and reflection informing the execution of detail.
I continue to maintain a level of engagement in artistic process - in the past favouring oil and acrylic painting on canvas. For the works in this exhibition, I decided to work with the traditional tools of the architect – pencil and paper. In the process of designing and making architecture I generally work with a digital pencil and iPad utilising the Morpholio Trace application.
The Detail (Joy)
The metamorphosis accelerates and the Cicada emerges almost doubling its size in a couple of days gracing us with extraordinary beauty for just six weeks before the lifecycle repeats. Eyes like fine jewels, luminous colours and the most delicate of wing structures appear of cellophane reflecting the blue Australian sky.
During the Cicadas short period in the limelight warm summer evenings are announced by the simultaneous commencement of the incredible shrill of Cicadas seeking attention from their mating partners. Their collective voice intended as a strategic defence mechanism deterring predators from their vulnerability (perhaps Cicadas can be likened to Architects)
The Devil (Process)
After the mating season Cicada nymphs emerge from hundreds of eggs laid in trees (possibilities). Falling to the surface below they burrow their way deep underground and attach themselves to soft tree roots to feed on plant sap (ideas). Here time slows down as the Cicada nymphs labour through development of their protective structure (pragmatics) over an extended period of approximately seven years. When fully developed the nymph claws its way back to the surface to climb back up the tree and shed its protective shell.
80cm x 30cm approx. Derwent pencils on fine art paper.
