John Greer
"Art is a voice in the world, not an utterance, but a constructed thought." –John Greer
A large stone fish lies near John Greer's Nova Scotia home. An enduring memory from Greer's childhood, the sculpture signals his artistic awakening. It also conveys his long-term musings on humanity's place in the universe, and what humans believe this place might be. For the past 30 years, the sculptor has pursued this existential question in many ways: affixing to a table two wine glasses filled with water by the rising tide, creating oversized reproductions of fruit pits and grains of rice; drawing inspiration from the works of ancient civilizations; and highlighting the illusory nature of contemporary Western culture. For Greer, art can touch and move us, but should never entertain.
John Greer was nominated by Ray Cronin, Director and CEO, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax.