Collection: Desire Lines by Scott Elk

The Desire Lines series by Scott Elk explores relationships to place, connections between people, and the often-intoxicating nature of physical interaction. Created in 2022, this series spans paintings, drawings, screenprints, and ceramics. A defining element of the work is a recurring ring motif, which serves as a visual manifestation of energy in transition.

Elk describes his vision of human interaction as a dynamic exchange of energy, comparing individuals to spinning vortexes—some expanding outward like galaxies, others pulling inward like black holes. When these forces collide, unexpected and wondrous transformations can occur—colours swirl, planets shift orbit, and new trajectories emerge. Through this concept, Elk continuously seeks to insert the human element of connection into fragmented and abstracted forms.

The term "desire line" originates in urban and transportation planning, referring to the natural paths created by human movement, representing the most intuitive or direct route between an origin and a destination. Elk reinterprets this idea as a metaphor for human relationships—paths chosen by instinct, necessity, or longing. His work embraces movement with intention, reflecting the unseen forces that shape our interactions and our experience of the world around us.