Image shows: Cllr Robert Cernik (Town Mayor), Councillor Sam Naylor and Councillor Joanne Callaghan
Joanne Risley Explores Misinformation and Democracy Through Sculpture
Artist Joanne Risley presents a sculpture from her ongoing Bad Seeds series, a body of work that examines the spread of misinformation, foreign interference, and the erosion of trust in democratic societies.
Created in response to what the artist describes as a “post-truth age,” the sculptures explore how seeds of discontent are planted and cultivated through misinformation. Rather than offering direct answers, the work invites viewers to reflect on the subtle and often unseen forces that shape public opinion and influence political discourse.
Loosely inspired by the form of a seed pod, the sculpture is deliberately enigmatic. Its silhouette also evokes a burning meteorite or the exaggerated burst of a cartoon explosion, creating an object that feels both organic and unsettling. A hatch incorporating a camera shutter forms an eye-like feature that encourages viewers to peer inside, while simultaneously suggesting that the sculpture may be observing them in return. This interplay between looking and being watched reflects contemporary concerns about surveillance, perception, and the uncertainty of truth.
Through Bad Seeds, Risley transforms familiar natural forms into thought-provoking objects that encourage curiosity and conversation, asking audiences to consider how ideas are planted, spread, and ultimately take root.
For more information about Joanne Risley and her work, visit joannerisley.co.uk.