artist 8: Andrew Scott Ross

When I was visiting Atlanta a little over two years ago, I made the rounds of contemporary galleries and art venues, eventually going to MOCA GA. As I walked in, I noticed clumps of crumpled up white paper scattered around on the floor of the rooms. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the clumps of paper were actually the sets for little paleolithic dioramas made of paper, complete with hunting scenes, shamanic rituals, fireside lounging, and other enigmatic activities. There were hundreds of these people. This work, entitled Rocks and Caves, was impressive — with or without reflection on culture formation, museums, and installation strategies.

Rocks and Caves

The artist behind this and related works is named Andrew Scott Ross. Currently based in Brooklyn, he attended school in Atlanta and Chicago. His recent projects include contributions to a production of Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” at the Guggenheim. According to the artist’s website, his work “explores the fragilities inherent to culture and our often-tenuous relationship with the natural world.”

One last thing: Ross doesn’t focus exclusively on miniature figures. An earlier piece from 2004, Sighting, consisted of lifesized silhouttes of a small buffalo herd arranged near an interstate. Passing drivers could glimpse the animals while speeding by or caught in the awful Atlanta traffic.

Note: The images in this post were grabbed from Ross’s splash page and the website of MOCA GA