I draw on three-dimensional forms. Drawings, rooted as they are in a two-dimensional tradition, are to be viewed head on, from a fixed angle; the totality can be grasped at a glance. Sculptural forms, on the other hand, exist in the solid world and every change in viewing angle present a new face of the piece. There is an inherent (and extremely fruitful) tension in using a sculptural form as a canvas. The implied spaces and volumes of naturalistic illustration are often at odds with the tangible reality of the form. The surfaces are, in turn, distorted by the inevitable parallax as the viewer repositions themselves in relation to the work. It is a static object which "behaves" dynamically only when observed, which requires an unmediated, in-person viewing for a full understanding.
In short, it is a complex object which allows me to address a complex phenomenon.
Cultures are products of their people and people are influenced by their cultures. Each is as the heart of the other. From this recursive identity emerges an intricate system which gives rise to the near limitless permutations of individual and cultural identities. Like the weather, such an densely layered system can never be satisfactorily comprehended, only appreciated and studied.
To study, to tease meaning out of raw data, and to leave a record of your discoveries for others to find furthers humanity. We are in the unique position of guiding the direction of our own development and it is not a course set by a privileged few. It is an epic collaboration between every member of the family of humankind which is enriched by every addition, regardless of size. We are each actively crafting our places in the world, changing who we are as individuals, and building our culture. My work is an attempt to address this phenomenon, and my own humble contribution to our collective enterprise.