Leonie Siri MacMillan

Changing Ideas Award
My practice explores the intersection of mythology, material transformation, and climate change through the figure of Mitherspher, my invented sea goddess. I have been inspired by Orcadian mythologies that describe shape-shifting beings that exist between human and marine life. I draw on this mutability to mirror the instability of our ocean ecologies. Also, these ancient myths suggest that humans are intrinsically connected to the natural world, a timeless message that gives reason to protect it. Cast in bronze, Mitherspher is represented with a whale’s tail, a human torso and an absence within the head. This void becomes a space for reflection, inviting viewers to imagine who the goddess might be and to participate in shaping her unfolding narrative.

Materials play a crucial role in discovering the Mitherspher story. This sculpture began with clay which then transformed into a 3d print, used as a template for the bronze casting. Combining contemporary and traditional sculptural methods offers new possibilities, such as the beautiful patterns that emerged in the bronze due to the melting effects of extreme heat upon the 3d print. This process mirrors the continuous reshaping of life within nature and the potentiality of renewal.

Influenced by Joseph Cambell’s theories that mythologies evolve to help us understand complex emotional and environmental experiences, I see the development of new myths as essential in navigating the climate crisis. Mitherspher becomes a vessel for this need. So far, she embodies both strength and care, positioning the feminine as a force of preservation and restoration within the ocean. Her presence invites contemplation on the beauty and fragility of marine environments, emphasising the urgency of their protection in the face of climate change.