Connections Artist Statement

Connections is a series of five mixed media collages created to convey concepts of oneness within the universe and acceptance of transience and imperfection. I have come to a belief that every living organism has a relationship with one another. The ways in which we are related to one another can be obvious or mysterious. Connections conveys this bond abstractly. Objects included in my work are familiar yet indistinguishable. Objects or “signifiers” are produced at mass creating this sense of repetition, and hopefully creating a rhythmic vibe.

“Teach a Fish to Man” is a collage mounted on a three feet by four feet canvas. I applied gesso to the canvas before spray painting it egg shell blue. I chose a limited color palate for this project because I didn’t want to complicate the meaning. After that I started to attach the signifiers. The signifiers are made from a high grade construction paper and archival glue. I have been told been told that my signifiers resemble a variety of things, from tongues to feathers to scales. My interpretation of the signifier’s meaning is less important than the viewer’s interpretation of their meaning.

“Don’t Trip” is a mixed media collage consisting of a canvas, spray paint, gorilla glue, faux flowers, shoes and shoelaces. I’ve created a spiral design with the spray paint using a wide variety of color. After painting my three feet by four feet canvas, I spray painted the shoes (laces removed) using the same variety of paint. After both the canvas and the shoes were dry, I mounted the shoes to the canvas using gorilla glue. The shoes had been arranged circularly with the toes pointing to the center of the canvas. There are 8 shoes in total (4 pairs of athletic shoes that I’ve worn to death.) These shoes selected for the making of this project were all shoes that I’ve loved, worn and eventually hoarded when they no longer adequately were able to perform their purpose. Even though the shoes are “worthless” and should not be worn I kept them for nostalgic reasons. The shoes intrigue and bother me all at the same time. “Bad Trip” is my resolution to the problem, giving these shoes a new purpose. After the shoes had been properly adhered, I start to make a circular pattern with the shoelaces weaving them in and out of the shoes. The end result of the shoe laces is to create a spiral pattern that will guide the viewer’s eyes across the piece.           

Some of the contemporary artists that I researched are Julie Mehetru, Andy Goldsworthy and Maie Yanni. All of these artists work with collage in unconventional ways. Julie Mehetru’s work has to deal with cognitive dissonance and diaspora. Andy Goldworthy’s artworks are known as “Earth Works,” which are constructed from natural objects like leaves and stones and are intentionally made to be non-sustainable. Maie Yanni’s works in the medium of collage and her subject matter is political and her repetitive style is signature to her work.         

                Semiotics and Wabi-Sabi are theories that apply to Connections. Semiotics is essentially the study of symbols and icons, and the way that these signifiers are understood. Connections explores the ideas of “the signifier” and the “signified.” Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss 20th century theorist, was not the first semiotic theorist but his work helped to help quantify what symbols mean to people. Wabi-Sabi (which roughly translates to “nature chill”) is a Japanese world view on the acceptance of transience and imperfection and holds to beliefs that nothing is ever finished, perfect and will never last forever. This concept was a derivative of a Buddhist teaching and was brought into new light when Leonard Kohen wrote his book entitled Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers. In his book, Kohen contrasts the differences of modern western aesthetics with Wabi-Sabi. Connections communicates and appropriates these theories in order to reflect a modern approach towards mixed media collage and to express the theme of connection and oneness of the universe.