Ecotones can be described as the small, abstract space between where two biomes meet in nature
– where a field ends and a forest begins. Although often invisible to the naked eye, ecotones are
the communal grounds between ecosystems where species can communicate and share resources.
These bodies of work explore the ecotone between the human world and the natural world
through mediums such as sculpture, painting, and installation. In the midst of the Global Climate
Crisis it is vital to question the entanglement between Humans and Nature, and how growth,
rather than dominance, is vital to heal the connection between these two spaces.

DeAnna Boyer (B. 2000, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) is a painter and illustrator. She earned a
BFA in Illustration with a minor in Art History at Ringling College of Art and Design. Currently,
DeAnna is studying at the Burren College of Art in the Masters of Art and Ecology Program.
Most recently she received a Fulbright – National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship where she
is studying the interactions between art, culture, and ecology in Ireland through narrative
paintings.

Artist Statement:

My artistic practice explores the complex relationship between humans and nature
through illustrative paintings and sequential works. The work I make seeks to realize the
turbulent effects of ecological erasure in the passing of time, while sowing the seeds of a world
that is strange yet not far removed from the present. The compositions of my paintings mimic
circinate forms of nature and seek to challenge linearity in environmental issues.

Through the use of gouache and acrylic, my paintings feature conceptual worlds that
distort the distinctions between real and illusory spaces. The work is defined by botanical motifs
of biodiverse landscapes and a surrealist fracturing of human figures. Color is also vital to my
practice for developing an otherworldly atmosphere that evokes a sense of the sublime, creating
a feeling that is familiar yet indistinguishably abnormal and unexpected. These techniques are
influenced by contemporary artists such as Mamma Anderson, Lisa Yuskavage, and Aiden Koch.

The mediums of painting and illustration have the ability to elucidate complex social
issues like the climate crisis to a diverse audience. The narrative paintings draw attention to the
harmful perceptions of human hierarchical power over nature through the use of vibrant and
entangled visuals of both nature and human forms, where one does not seek dominance over the
other.

Veronika Constantinou (born in 1996) is a Cypriot contemporary artist exploring numerous techniques in her art practice. She received a BA and an Integrated Master in Applied and Fine Arts from the University of Western Macedonia in Greece. Currently, she is doing an MA in Art & Ecology in Burren College of Art in Ireland. Veronika participated in several group exhibitions worldwide including: Before the end of Halcyon Days at Chilli Art Gallery in Greece and Serious Playground at the Burren College of Art in Ireland. She often participates in activities, workshops and seminars related to art, science and education.

Artist Statement:

My work is mainly influenced by the natural environment, exploring the similarities between natural elements and the human body. Sometimes I study the microcosm through a stereoscope, while at other times I try to get closer to nature through various practices that activate my senses. In this way, I get a better understanding of my place in the environment in which I live. Through my artistic practice, I experiment with different materials and techniques by combining natural, recycled and non-toxic materials to reduce the carbon footprint I leave as an artist.

Another aspect that plays a significant role in my work is the process as I am searching for non-toxic materials to avoid the synthetic ones. For example, for the preparation of a painting surface, I use a mixture of cornstarch, baking soda, PVA glue and water instead of Gesso. Small practices like this might not be visible in the final work; however, they are crucial for the meaning of my work. The final work is often an installation composed of mixed media objects and drawings in the space. My desire is to create a place for the viewer to explore, connect, imagine and create.