Statement from "A Space to Breathe"
The work I make is based on my belief that as human beings we hold history in our bodies. My influences come from ideas of historic trauma, genetics and personal experiences. Many of my family’s stories seem to relate to the human body. There are codes for the way to treat your body based on my family’s cultural heritage and my upbringing. My work addresses the memories of these stories from an emotional context.
The way I am using material relates to notions of memory; it can be delicate and can change over time. I paint these paintings on the floor where I can stretch my body to make them and many marks are within my own reach. Sometimes the paint is used in a fluid manner, while other times scratching, cutting or physical piles of paint are applied to engage ideas various emotional states.
Parts of memory can become diminished or exaggerated when re-examined or reflected on at a later time. The same concept works when examining an imperfection or wound in the body. Though an imperfection may disappear on the outside, it can internally scar someone forever.
The paintings reference my own emotional response to my Grandfather’s stories about Starvation and other unfathomable situations. A Space to Breathe focuses on the ideas of both a physical contraction within the body and a pause in a story to reflect and consider.
The work I make is based on my belief that as human beings we hold history in our bodies. My influences come from ideas of historic trauma, genetics and personal experiences. Many of my family’s stories seem to relate to the human body. There are codes for the way to treat your body based on my family’s cultural heritage and my upbringing. My work addresses the memories of these stories from an emotional context.
The way I am using material relates to notions of memory; it can be delicate and can change over time. I paint these paintings on the floor where I can stretch my body to make them and many marks are within my own reach. Sometimes the paint is used in a fluid manner, while other times scratching, cutting or physical piles of paint are applied to engage ideas various emotional states.
Parts of memory can become diminished or exaggerated when re-examined or reflected on at a later time. The same concept works when examining an imperfection or wound in the body. Though an imperfection may disappear on the outside, it can internally scar someone forever.
The paintings reference my own emotional response to my Grandfather’s stories about Starvation and other unfathomable situations. A Space to Breathe focuses on the ideas of both a physical contraction within the body and a pause in a story to reflect and consider.
