Artist Statement
My inspiration stems from observations of natural life forms and processes. Organisms like flowers and birds have forms and functions familiar yet foreign to us. At a glance, they seem simple and go unnoticed, but little curiosity and observation reveals a universe of complex, intelligent systems. The wonder and reverence I feel in this study is what drives my work, and the results take various directions.
In drawings, I educe the energy and life force of a living form by abstracting and transforming its elements. A delicate flower may explode like a bomb, or become a planet in a galaxy. I also incorporate animation in this practice, where I study natural processes such as the insect metamorphosis, and reprocess it in a digital format.
The installation and sculpture are created from non-biodegradable plastic by-products of consumerism in response to the environmental crisis and our role in it. These pieces capture moments found in the natural environment; however, they are crafted out of synthetic disposables such as plastic bottles, sponge, and cotton swabs. Although humorous and playful, the work evokes irony and discomfort, depicting the synthetic “nature” generated by the evolution of human beings.