Turning a Blind Eye
People’s Choice Award – $1,000 Non-Acquisitive
Liz Ranger-Craven
Turning a Blind Eye 2024
Hand-built stoneware
Underglazes, oxides, and a splash of glaze
53 x 90 x 63 cm
About the Artwork
One of the most damaging parts of our society is environmental ignorance, often wilfully—‘turning a blind eye’ and choosing to ignore and avoid facing facts. I am compelled to create work in response to the realities of our natural environment, as our world is grappling with many ecological challenges. Climate change, habitat destruction, and unsustainable resource exploitation all have a huge impact on our natural world. I depict the fragility and beauty of nature, using a bird in this piece as its representation; and how we are ultimately responsible for nature’s ongoing decline, but could likewise be responsible for any success in its protection. I hope to encourage a relationship and connection between the natural world and ourselves, and to instigate conversation. This is only possible with increased awareness.
Three figures display the birds like medals pinned to the chest, slowly losing all sign of life. Humans still exploit nature to better their own circumstance and increase standing in our modern world, where greater financial gain is seen as the perpetual goal. The figures gradually grow in stature as the impact on nature becomes more evident.
About the Artist
Liz Ranger-Craven immigrated to Australia from South Africa in 2011 and currently resides in Mackay, Queensland. She studied fine art at university, majoring in printmaking and sculpture; this instigated her passion for clay. All her works are primarily an ode to earth, with clay the medium to explore the interplay between nature and the human condition.
Liz has participated in several exhibitions over the years in both South Africa and Australia. She has received recognition and several awards, and has been commissioned to do and run several projects for public works and community upliftment projects.
After arriving in Australia, it took some time before Liz was able to pursue her passion once more. In 2021 she was able to start a studio and has immersed herself in her work, also offering classes and workshops. Clay is her primary medium of expression, with its organic malleability and responsiveness to her ideas. Her unique hand-built pieces are bold and highly expressive—often simple shapes covered in vibrant colour, or detailed textures, patterns and symbols. Layers of underglazes, stains, glazes and lustres are built to create a feeling of decorative excess reflecting layers of Australian environment and lives. Liz captures moments, striving to be evocative, and encouraging people to look below the surface and relate to the story being told.