It is my pleasure to present some pictures from Ayla Murray’s thesis show “The Aberration of the Species.” I am frankly amazed by what Ayla managed to pull off. Almost all of the work in the exhibition was made in her final term as a grad student at USU. The show is both provocative and beautifully crafted.

To give you the context for the show here is Ayla’s thesis statement…

“Technology is the foundation upon which society has been built. Early achievements, such as the wheel and agricultural systems, provided people with an alternative to nomadic life in the form of settled communities for the first time in human history. Today people are members of several communities not limited to the physical realm; they are also participants in an altogether different form of community with the help of a little something called the Internet.

Since 1960, the exponential growth of technology and the proliferation of personal devices has permanently altered every aspect of our lives. The ensuing generations have been raised in a time aptly dubbed the Digital Age, in which communication, entertainment, healthcare and the global economy have become intertwined with technical advancement. It may be said that the sole purpose of continued innovation is a desire for complete ease and efficiency of the systems that make life possible. However, if this utopian vision is achieved, what then becomes of humanity and the activities that occupy our waking hours?

The flaws in this fantasy are already apparent. At this very moment the phone in your pocket or the computer on your desk places the world at your fingertips. The ability to have your image seen and words heard by the masses was once reserved for rulers and gods, but now is achieved by anyone who can find the power button. These devices offer us an escape to an alternative world where we can manipulate how others perceive us by fabricating an idealized version of ourselves. In some cases we begin to believe this is reality rather than fallacy and struggle to separate these two conflicting realms. In this world, we can engage in anonymous discourse and avoid uncomfortable personal conversations, which has begun to inhibit the development of healthy relationships with friends, family and our own self image.

While this is pure conjecture on my part and, hopefully, destined to become nothing more than a nightmare, The Aberration of the Species is an attempt to confront this uncomfortable by-product of technological advancement and what it may lead to in the future. I have created an atmosphere of curiosity and unease by utilizing Sigmund Freud’s concept of the uncanny; incorporating near-human representations, fragmented appendages and reflective surfaces. With the combination of these subjects and familiar symbols of contemporary communication I aim to encourage the viewer to ponder their own relationship with technology and how it has distorted their perception of themselves and others.”

- Ayla Murray

Shown Nothing But What Is Shown, 2021. — *Shown Nothing But What Is Shown,* 2021.

I brought my wife Lauren and fresh baby Juniper (just a few weeks old) along to the Tippetts and Eccles gallery to see the exhibition. We were struck right away by the busts along the wall, drawn to check them out and walk down the line.

Distorted Realities, 2021. — *Distorted Realities,* 2021.

Here’s some close-up shots of Distorted Realities (click on any image to see it enlarged).

This is the view from down the other end of the gallery after checking out all the busts…

After the initial excitement of being there, I found walking through the exhibition rather unsettling. Dismembered hands protruded from the white walls. Half a brain with a USB cord attached sat staring at a severed head. The disfigured busts all lined up made me think of the terra cotta warriors… of the future, each one with a different glitch in their appearance. The interactions between humanity and technology blurred in every piece, and asked us to examine our relationship with the devices we use. Perhaps most unsettling was the hooded figure sat on a small bench, engrossed in a mobile device, seemingly unaware of the quiet horror of its surroundings. This is a familiar sight to us all, and placed amongst the rest of the exhibition it made me question the speed at which technology is infiltrating society. I could wax on, but Idon’t want to espouse too much.

This piece below is called Profile.

The piece below is called Autopilot (Heads in the Cloud).

I love the piece pictured below. It is called The Prospect of a Lasting Existence and it gives a sense of serenity to the exhibition. It made me think of a Buddha head in its size and serene expression. Despite the calm feeling to the piece, the title gives it an unsettling sense. Unlike the Buddha, a spiritual figurehead, this is a symbol of science. This is humanity striving for perfection and an answer to the problem of death. The Prospect of a Lasting Existence sat opposite the glitched busts of Distorted Realties. This juxtaposition made me wonder if the Distorted Realities were the failed experiments that led to this symbol of perfection. The scale of this piece is remarkable (I have included a picture with our baby Juniper), and helps with its association as an almost religious icon. Very thought provoking! I was also amazed that Ayla got this out of the kiln in one piece! Excellently crafted.

The Prospect of a Lasting Existence, 2021. — *The Prospect of a Lasting Existence,* 2021.

And lastly here he/she is, in the center of it all…