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Hybrid Sea Creatures

Hybrids were born out of nautical tales of mythical creatures,  narratives of creatures created from the imagination, mermaids and sirens, kraken and hippocamps, travelling shows with fantastical creations such as the fiji-mermaid, sewn from fragments of separate animals (which in turn led to people being suspicious of unusual real animals like the platypus). 

I have created creatures from fragments of others, with anthropomorphic elements, highlighting the unknown life and the unexplored world of the under the sea landscape. 

Could these creatures exist, unknown, in the depths of the ocean ?

Ceramic Hybrid Sea Creatures are made from a variety of animal parts, which I have cast from life, including Octopus, Cuttlefish, Crab and Sea Urchins, as well as created pieces to suit the scale of my work such as turtle and sea horse. These are mixed with casts of doll parts, which helps create a more anthropomorphic hybrid. 

Cuttlefish Body

Smaller plinth pieces

Smoke Fired smaller plinth pieces

Turtle Body

Jar Displays

Limb boxes

Creatures Exhibited Outside

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Hybrid Sea Creatures on the Coast

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kathryn lewis ceramics - Hybrid Sea Creatures