Raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Treaty One Territory) Trish Shwart is currently living and working in Victoria, British Columbia (Lkwungen and W?SÁNE? Territories). In 2023 she completed a three year project (Markers of Time) that making somewhat light-hearted narrative paintings that imagined what the world might look like after a near-extinction event. In 2024 Shwart began a new series of paintings that examine her sense that technology and memory are changing her experience of the natural world.
StatementSometimes I make art to express an idea and sometimes the work forces me to admit something I have been trying to ignore.
I accept that the natural world is connected to the socio-political realities of my time. Nature is not just something to be looked at and admired. It is a place to live and work. The natural world has existed for millennia, and human tenure is, in comparison, insignificant. My recent work considers the ways in which technology is changing our experience of the natural world. The demands of information updates, privacy concerns and cyber-bullying create a world that is disconnected from the one my body occupies.On screen, the wild landscape appears dramatic and intense. Colors are extreme, and the accelerated movements of the sky or a running animal feel hyperreal. The more subtle elements of the natural world can seem less authentic than the immersive digital realm. Yet instinctively, I seek solace in private landscapes. These sanctuaries provide a balm for my body and minds. In my recent work, I explore this delicate balance between the benefits and drawbacks of our digital age, striving to cultivate a deeper connection between individuals and the natural world, even in a technologically saturated society. Ultimately, understanding and navigating this relationship is crucial not only for our psychological well-being but also for addressing pressing global issues such as the climate crisis.
