Artist Statement
My work revolves around the concept of interaction. I am interested in the way that separate pieces can come together to form something entirely new and different. I think a tension occurs when soft, organic, curvilinear lines are made with something as hard yet delicate as clay.
Scars, both mental and physical, are the basis of my current body of work. I am interested in the power behind scars – not simply the helplessness that comes from what is inflicted upon a person, but the power that comes from choosing how to deal with it. I am interested in how people choose to dictate and own the scars they carry.
It is the imperfections that make things and people beautiful and interesting. It is this beauty that I am after in my art. I think that secrets and imperfections go hand in hand. I love subtly unexpected aspects of a piece that sometimes I as the maker am not even aware of. I think that these secret visual aspects create a relationship between the viewer and the piece that add an extra level of engagement and attachment between the art and the viewer. Just as secrets shared increase the intimacy level of a relationship between two people, so it does between the art and the viewer.
I draw insight for my work from a range of sources. I am inspired by ancient Chinese jade work and bronze animal forms as well as the sculptures of female warriors at temple sites in Cambodia. Additional inspiration comes from Japanese painted screens, Fabergé eggs from Russia, and Maori Art. I am inspired by all of these things; they all play a role in my work in one way or another.
Scars, both mental and physical, are the basis of my current body of work. I am interested in the power behind scars – not simply the helplessness that comes from what is inflicted upon a person, but the power that comes from choosing how to deal with it. I am interested in how people choose to dictate and own the scars they carry.
It is the imperfections that make things and people beautiful and interesting. It is this beauty that I am after in my art. I think that secrets and imperfections go hand in hand. I love subtly unexpected aspects of a piece that sometimes I as the maker am not even aware of. I think that these secret visual aspects create a relationship between the viewer and the piece that add an extra level of engagement and attachment between the art and the viewer. Just as secrets shared increase the intimacy level of a relationship between two people, so it does between the art and the viewer.
I draw insight for my work from a range of sources. I am inspired by ancient Chinese jade work and bronze animal forms as well as the sculptures of female warriors at temple sites in Cambodia. Additional inspiration comes from Japanese painted screens, Fabergé eggs from Russia, and Maori Art. I am inspired by all of these things; they all play a role in my work in one way or another.
