artist research statement

Perception and experience are not static, they actively shape and reshape the meanings we derive from the world around us. My interdisciplinary art artistic practice delves into this dynamic interplay, exploring how we interact with objects and environments, and how meaning is constructed through these interactions. This exploration has taken me through two distinct yet interconnected areas: an initial focus on sociocultural inquiry, and a more recent emphasis on introspective placemaking.

In my earlier work, I investigated narrative, discourse, culture, and information society. I was interested in how meaning and action are constructed by and modified through interactions between individuals, groups, and institutions within specific moments in time and space. This involved examining how we interpret and make sense of the social world, particularly within complex environments of competing narratives and information. My artistic practice involved recontextualizing sociocultural phenomena, often through a variety of media including writing, drawing, object making, video, multimedia installations, and participatory projects. These projects explored the dynamic relationship between individuals and the broader social and cultural systems they inhabit, acknowledging that participation and understanding within these systems is complex and multifaceted.

My current work represents a shift in focus, turning the analytical lens inward. This exploration is grounded in reflecting on fundamental artistic elements and design principles within an introspective, interpersonal, and developmental context. Drawing and mark-making in an expanded form have become central to my practice, serving as tools for introspection, imaginative play, and navigating transitions. The process of creating “drawing-objects” involves a transformation of simple lines into complex forms through repetitive gestures, a process that mirrors the transitions from unstructured to structured play. Drawing-objects evolve from two-dimensional surfaces into three-dimensional entities, possessing shape, form, and texture. The repetitive nature of this practice allows for a deep engagement with the present moment, where transformations occur gradually, often imperceptibly, through sustained engagement.

The initial exploration of drawing-objects was relatively small scale, but with the recent exhibition Seven Years in the Desert, I expanded the scale to explore the impact of basic elements on the larger environment with a large-scale public installation. Seven Years in the Desert created an environment where basic elements interacted to evoke emotional and perceptual responses. By considering viewer's movement through space, I sought to highlight how our understanding of a space is shaped by our physical presence and the subtle shifts in our perspective. The use of expansive fields of color aimed to create a sense of boundless space, while the placement of constructed elements within these fields serves to anchor the viewer, prompting reflection on the relationship between individual experience and the broader environment.

While seemingly distinct, both bodies of work share a common thread: an interest in the transformative potential of human experience and interaction. Whether examining broad sociocultural phenomena or exploring personal introspection, my practice is centered on how meaning is created and recreated through our engagement with the world. The shift in focus from external critique to internal exploration reflects a desire to investigate the fundamental elements of experience, highlighting the essential role of play, transition, and ongoing transformation in both personal and social contexts.