Artist Statement
With my practice I imagine what might happen if our bodies were allowed to have inherent value.
What if bodies were simply allowed to exist in whatever form they take, however they contribute to society, and however they behave or misbehave, fail or impress?
In relation to this I'm thinking about what could happen if the land we live within was allowed to exist without the need use extractive language to defend the economic value of an untouched place. That feeling of openness and space and being able to stare at rocks on riverbanks for hours, for the sheer wonder of the subtlety of colours and patterns—there are no words or dollar figures for this impact on our collective wellbeing, on our bodies and minds.
Embedding the tasks of art making within my physical memory, I see art making as a chance to pay homage to my body and in turn, the places, people, animals and moments that sustain me. My practice grounds me in my physical body at the same time as transforming and transcending in the same way trudging through deep snow, tidying my house and pushing my way through thick brush to find mushrooms or berries orients me in a confusing and overwhelming world. With watercolour, animation, drawing and dance I strive towards a place of comfort, magic, tenderness and connection through the subtle power of shared vulnerability and gentle disruption of norms.
Navigating my own chronic health struggles and working with the vulnerability of others through my home care work, I have noticed how I have intentionally began to focus on art that feeds my and perhaps the world's collective search for comfort and safety. I strive every day to recognize the startling beauty of simple, small moments of connection that transcend any kind of accolades my art career could bring.
What happens when we want to be "our best selves" and "living our best life" but our bodies are exhausted and ailing so cannot keeping giving? What happens when we age or become ill and we no longer have the energy to make art, to contribute to the economy, to suppress our own needs? I want to redefine what makes us valuable and important as people and as artists.
What if bodies were simply allowed to exist in whatever form they take, however they contribute to society, and however they behave or misbehave, fail or impress?
In relation to this I'm thinking about what could happen if the land we live within was allowed to exist without the need use extractive language to defend the economic value of an untouched place. That feeling of openness and space and being able to stare at rocks on riverbanks for hours, for the sheer wonder of the subtlety of colours and patterns—there are no words or dollar figures for this impact on our collective wellbeing, on our bodies and minds.
Embedding the tasks of art making within my physical memory, I see art making as a chance to pay homage to my body and in turn, the places, people, animals and moments that sustain me. My practice grounds me in my physical body at the same time as transforming and transcending in the same way trudging through deep snow, tidying my house and pushing my way through thick brush to find mushrooms or berries orients me in a confusing and overwhelming world. With watercolour, animation, drawing and dance I strive towards a place of comfort, magic, tenderness and connection through the subtle power of shared vulnerability and gentle disruption of norms.
Navigating my own chronic health struggles and working with the vulnerability of others through my home care work, I have noticed how I have intentionally began to focus on art that feeds my and perhaps the world's collective search for comfort and safety. I strive every day to recognize the startling beauty of simple, small moments of connection that transcend any kind of accolades my art career could bring.
What happens when we want to be "our best selves" and "living our best life" but our bodies are exhausted and ailing so cannot keeping giving? What happens when we age or become ill and we no longer have the energy to make art, to contribute to the economy, to suppress our own needs? I want to redefine what makes us valuable and important as people and as artists.