Margot Hofmans

This work began through investigation into human-made ecosystems, where plants and animals—chosen because of their visual appeal—survive inside an artificial environment. Examples of such faux ecosystems are aquariums of exotic fish, used as an interior object, or birdcages in a zoo. These present aesthetically pleasing wilderness in a sterile and controlled environment; they are ecosystems designed with visual intent. 

Drawing from aquariums, I created a faux ecosystem using collage-inspired visuals to connect different actors and worlds together. The work plays with different levels of abstraction by treating the image as an ecosystem in itself.