Clarissa Tossin: To Take Root among the Stars

Clarissa Tossin is a Brazilian artist who uses film, sculpture, and drawing to explore the intersections of climate change and global capitalism's frontier mythologies. Her first monograph, published by the Frye Art Museum, presents an overview of her career through full-color reproductions of works from 2008 to 2023. The exhibition borrows its title from Octavia Butler's Earthseed novels, in which humans seek to survive amid ecological and cultural apocalypse. Tossin's new works explore mapping and naming as colonial technologies of discovery and conquest on Earth and beyond, embodying the tension between ecological destruction and the caretaking approaches of Indigenous communities. Essays by curator Vic Brooks, writer Leslie Dick, and exhibition curator Georgia Erger offer intimate assessments of the artist's practice at a timely moment.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 16 January 2024
Publisher: Marquand Books Inc

Introduction:
Clarissa Tossin, a Brazilian multimedia artist residing in Los Angeles (LA), has dedicated her artistic practice to examining the devastating impact of environmental destruction across the United States and Latin America. Through a diverse range of media, including film, sculpture, and drawing, Tossin delves into the intricate intersections of climate change and the mythologies surrounding global capitalism's expansion. Her monograph, published by the Frye Art Museum, serves as a comprehensive retrospective of her career, showcasing a selection of her works from 2008 to 2023. This catalog provides a glimpse into Tossin's artistic journey, featuring full-color reproductions of her diverse body of work, including images of several new artworks commissioned specifically for the exhibition.

The Exhibition's Title:
The exhibition draws its title from Octavia Butler's Earthseed novels, a series of science fiction works that envision a future where humans struggle to survive amidst ecological and cultural devastation. Tossin's new works, inspired by these novels, explore the colonial technologies of mapping and naming as tools of discovery and conquest on Earth and beyond. Through her seamless fusion of synthetic and organic materials, Tossin's artworks embody the complex tension between ecological destruction and the resilient practices of Indigenous communities.

Curator's Essays:
To provide deeper insights into Tossin's practice, the exhibition includes essays by curator Vic Brooks, writer Leslie Dick, and exhibition curator Georgia Erger. These essays offer intimate assessments of the artist's work at a crucial juncture, shedding light on her artistic vision, influences, and the societal and environmental concerns that drive her creative process.

Conclusion:
Clarissa Tossin's multidisciplinary approach to art allows her to explore the complex interplay between human actions, environmental degradation, and the construction of narratives. Through her powerful and thought-provoking works, Tossin prompts us to reflect on the urgent need for sustainable practices and the preservation of our planet's natural resources. Her exhibition at the Frye Art Museum offers a unique opportunity to witness the artist's visionary perspective and engage with the critical issues of our time.

Dimension: 241 x 165 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781646570355