POST PLASTIC FAUNA

Concept:
Post-Plastic Fauna is a visionary series where art and science converge, exploring the intersection of amber fossils and the urgent issue of plastic pollution in our oceans. Valentinaki draws inspiration from nature’s resilience and adaptability, creating sculptures that resemble futuristic fossils. Each piece features a mutated organism encapsulated in amber-like resin, symbolizing the enduring impact of human activity on the natural world. The series invites reflection on sustainability, environmental responsibility, and the legacy we leave for future generations.

Artistic Critique:
Amber has long preserved both natural and cultural history, capturing the past while communicating across time. In Post-Plastic Fauna, Valentinaki harnesses this symbolic power, embedding natural and artificial textures in resin to create abstract, richly colored compositions. Zoomorphic forms emerge, in part through the inclusion of oyster shell valves, evoking primitive organisms and connecting humanity to the marine world.
The works act as “fossil casings” of our era, encapsulating both environmental damage and the enduring beauty of life. The incorporation of Saules koks (Tree of the Sun), a traditional Latvian folk symbol, strengthens the dialogue across generations, linking ancestors, the present, and posterity. With their intricately coalesced shapes and primordial resonance, the pieces recall the Wunderkammern of early natural history museums, emphasizing both wonder and moral responsibility.
Through Post-Plastic Fauna, Valentinaki creates a poetic archaeology of the future—a meditation on the delicate balance between human impact and the resilience of nature, urging viewers to consider their role in safeguarding the planet.
Text by Mattia Lapperier – Art Critic