Eli Kan

Oblation, 2023
Digital Photography (original plaster, fig plant, moss, vine), 36 x 84 in.

I made Oblation in 2020 as a response to the rising influence of global warming. From the flooding in Indonesia, to the bushfires in Australia, all I would see in the news was the tragedies that climate change caused. I wanted to create something that inspired hope instead.

Oblation is a plaster statue of my personification of Mother Nature. It has a live fig plant growing from the head of the statue, and is covered in a mix of preserved and live moss. The roots emerging from the bottom of the statue were created by attaching dry branches and coating them in a mixture of plaster and earth. The bees that float around the statue's head are made from dried vine. The name "Oblation" means the act of offering and the statue's hand is outstretched in a gesture of aid given as well as supplication for greater action to be taken.

Eli Kan is an interdisciplinary artist majoring in Studio Art and minoring in Game Design. Born in Wisconsin and raised in Singapore, they draw on their experiences to create their pieces. Their work ranges from comics to digital media to mixed-media sculpture and explores themes of identity, loss and the body. In their free time, they enjoy playing D&D, crocheting, and trying new food around New York. If you would like to see more of their work, you can find them on Instagram @elikan.ink.