Evolving Parallel

The concept of parallel worlds directly relates to my art practice. In my work I depict clashing environments that might normally be perceived as opposite and perhaps unrelated. My work moves to reveal the intersections between these ecosystems that might normally be overlooked, bending parallel lines into a cross-section matrix. A couple years ago I actually began this book project titled Parallel Universe in which I created drawings of organisms that are hybrids of two or more forms. The first drawing in the book is a combination of a jellyfish and a sponge. They are similar systems in that they are colonies of organisms that make up what appears to be a singular form, in unison. Jellyfish and sponges generally live totally separate lives, yet often in the same space (ocean water), not interacting as far as we know (and how mysterious they are to us—like aliens).  The idea is that the separate organisms are living and existing parallel to one another, side by side, yet mirror like. They both live in water, are both colonies of cells which become specialized into different parts, both have jelly-like textures, both exhibit polyp forms (many jellyfish in their juvenile state are polyps attached to rocks much like sponges), among other traits and habits. The hybrid drawing creates a super-form of the two, bridging the gaps between their existences to exhibit their likenesses—and in turn differences. Their realities and existences are merged, making two parallel existences one.

Many of the organisms featured involve a symbiotic relationship. For instance, “Ant Plant” depicts a carnivorous pitcher plant which gives an ant colony a home within its structure and sweet nectar to eat, while simultaneously dissolving them for fertilizer, only at the same rate the ant reproduce. The ecosystem is generally balanced and self contained. This is a combination carnivorous plant and various ‘ant plants’, which are plants in our reality that provide homes for ants in their roots. These two plants, the carnivorous plant and the ant plant are not generally regarded as related, except for their usage of insects. Evolutionary they present similar mechanisms for survival, yet oppositely—the carnivorous is not symbiotic, yet the ant plant is. On a smaller scale, the ants have their separate reality of the space, and the plant its own. This is an example of where we might think spaces or consciousnesses might be running parallel, when, depending on perspective (perhaps from the outside), they might appear to be more of a matrix, with parallel parts in between.  

There is a term called ‘parallel evolution’, which describes two separate organisms that have essentially no contact with each other, and develop evolutionarily into having similar traits. This is something I am very interested in and which appears in my work quite frequently. I think it is ironic that we can believe things to be unrelated because of historical, ecological circumstances (according to parallel evolution), despite obvious similarities. When one gets deep into relationships between organisms, taxonomy appears completely arbitrary. This is the paradox of parallel worlds and perception. 

Celeste M. Evans