Ash Coates’ work navigates complex relationships within the biosphere through the lens of post-human philosophy, speculative fiction, and sci-fi. These frameworks allow him to explore ecological thought, biology, and personal narratives in a way that embraces world-building and the mythopoetic within contemporary art. By envisioning alternate realities and future possibilities, Coates aims to challenge the boundaries between the natural and synthetic, the living and non-living.

The ecological cycle of dying and returning to the earth is a recurring theme in Coates’ work, particularly as it intersects with the remnants of human activity. Coates is fascinated by the idea that even in death, we—and the waste we leave behind—become part of a larger ecological process. The colonies of microbes that slowly break down synthetic materials, transforming waste into something new, are both destructive and regenerative forces. They embody the ongoing dialogue between life and death, nature and artifice, permanence and impermanence.

Using mostly plastic-based materials such as acrylic paint, resins, and building polymers, the process of making his work becomes a meditation on these rhythms. Each piece is an exploration of the complex relationships between human-made materials and the natural world, where the boundaries between what is synthetic and what is organic are constantly shifting. Through these works, Coates invites viewers to reflect on our place within this intricate web of life, death, and decay, and to consider the lasting impact of the materials we create and discard.

31 August / 06 October 2024
ASH COATES
OOO: An Uncanny Economy of Things

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