Elise Coatney

I seek out moments in the natural world that mirror the complexities of human relationships, often revealing themes of identity, power, and sexuality. I’m intrigued by the complexity of natural forms when viewed intimately, and the trickery that plants, insects, and animals have adapted to survive. Seemingly opaque systems in nature often become intelligent in ways one could never imagine at first glance. I investigate the dynamics between predator and prey, and how this relates to personal identity within social structures and intimate connections. In queer relationships, I’m stirred by the idea of the uncanny double and the erotics of sameness. What does it mean to desire another, and is that person ultimately a reflection of ourselves? 

My work often flirts with the sinister underbelly of innocence, while at the same time paying homage to beauty and its complex relationship to fragility. In nature, that which appears to be nurturing is often predatory. The yonic beauty of an orchid fascinates me and fills me with a kind of tingling dread. There is an ominous foreboding in the symmetry of the petals, which feels almost human, yet is small and fragile, easily destroyed by a careless hand. The secrecy of the night also compels me, and I explore what can occur behind a veil of darkness when we think no one is watching. Essentially, I am intrigued by artifice and the disquieting truths hidden behind beautiful facades. Reckoning with my own identity, I explore the dissonance of presenting as a feminine ideal, while feeling that my true self is a monstrous other.