Artist Statement
Throughout the global pandemic, our interpretation of public space and interactions with one another has changed. Does isolation, fear, and social turmoil affect our ability to connect interpersonally? In this body of work, I present animals in place of humans, disarming the audience, in order to evoke empathy.
These creatures are stuck in a liminal space between flat canvas and three-dimensional ceramic. Humans are bound to a similar reality, in a state between the past and future. I use both sculpture and painted canvas to create an environment for the characters while keeping them on separate panels to imply a disconnection. The flatness of the paint ties the sculptures to the wall, creating an illusory world for them to inhabit.
With a health crisis and many injustices continuing around the world, it is hard to remember what community feels like. Are we so far removed from our commonalities that hostility has taken over? The animals represent the turning point we are at as a species, facing the choice to either unite or remain divided. Some characters in this piece speak loudly while others observe. Some share canvas to show camaraderie, reminding the viewer that we are social creatures. The thinner spaces in between represent a need in all the creatures to feel close to others. When gathering is safe once again, we may finally be able bridge the gaps between us.
