by artist Chloe Begg
Artist Statement: The design of the beaver leans heavily on geographic narratives by taking inspiration from two stories of Swiss cartography. The first story is that of the Dufour map, the first large scale topographical map of Switzerland created in the 1800s. The Dufour map a feat of engineering, created by immense physical efforts to manually triangulate unexplored regions of the Alps. The Dufour map is a source of pride in Switzerland, and speaks to the exactitude and precision for which the nation is known.
The painted beaver is a nod to cartography with clean lines and shapes reminiscent of aerial views. The design takes on an abstract and contemporary twist to mapping through brighter colours and bold shapes, hopefully bringing joy and playfulness into people’s daily lives. As an homage to the hidden images, Swiss iconography is hidden throughout the design. Watches, chocolate, cowbells, edelweiss, skis, mountains, and more are integrated as map-like imagery, look closely to see how many you can find!
Artist Bio: Chloe Begg is an artist based in Toronto/Tkaronto. Taking inspiration from local surroundings and the detail of life that surround us all, Chloe integrates industrial and urban forms into sculptures that evoke beauty and wonder. Primarily working and exhibiting in ceramic sculpture, Chloe is also beginning work in public art with an installation in the Toronto Sculpture Garden from April to October 2016.
Chloe attended the Haliburton School of Art and Design in 2022 and the Banff Centre for Arts as an emerging artist in residence in 2024. Chloe has participated in numerous mentorship programs and received grants from the Canada Council of the Arts, TOLive, and FUSION Clay and Glass Association to support further development as an emerging artist. Chloe has exhibited through DesignTO, The Artist Project, and several galleries across Ontario.
www.chloebegg.com
@cb.ceramics
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