Liminal Arts is excited for the upcoming exhibition opening on 31st October
Is the 'State of Nature' a war of all against all in which human life is
"nasty, brutish and short" as philosopher Thomas Hobbes wrote in the seventeenth century.
Or
“It is pity in which the state of nature takes the place of laws, morals and virtues, with the added advantage that no one there is tempted to disobey its gentle voice.”
Jean Jacques Rousseau.
As our world passes through a perilous time where the fear of environmental collapse joins with calls for countries to re-arm to meet the threat of aggressive authoritarian regimes, is there a 'state of nature' awaiting us in the final aftermath of all these woes?
There is surely no hope of returning to what in the mind of Rousseau was an idyllic though solitary existence for humankind, but do Hobbes' pessimistic overtures justify strong government in the face of impending crises?
Was there a time when nature thrived? Balanced and poised adjusting and shifting to the rhythms of eternity? Is it possible to envisage a future where humankind gently inhabits such a place? Or are we destined to compete one with all to secure a fragile and tenuous existence making it through our 'three score years and ten' unscathed?
Is there an audacious hope that all will be well and healing and restoration could be the destiny of humanity?
Whether work expresses an individual's reflections, or attempt to express broader social perceptions, artists are invited to submit work exploring the theme of 'The State of Nature'.
All original 2D or 3D artwork in any media is eligible.
