Jeff Schmuki (United States)
Title: Extractors #1 and #2, 2023
Medium: Handbuilt and Wheelthrown Glazed Ceramic
Date of work: 2023
Dimensions: 8″ x 14″ x 8″
Description:
Lithium mining has become increasingly prevalent due to the high demand for this metal in smartphones and other electronic equipment. Although it has been embraced as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional energy sources, its production process still causes ecological destruction. Jeff Schmuki creates ceramic tableaus representing the devastation caused by lithium. His figurines are set into ruined industrial landscapes that depict this industry’s impact on nature, from the contamination of air, land, and waterways with chemicals and heavy metals to deforestation and wildlife destruction. By representing these issues in a tangible form, Schmuki feels we are encouraged to learn more about how our choices impact the environment and to find solutions before more ecological damage is done.