Unit 3: Artist Statement

My practice is an exploration of human physicality and the constant hum that exists within our bodies. By using my body as a material, I explore embodiment and traces. I consider the significance of physically occupying space and our relationship with the objects that hold us and in themselves, can be seen as representations of the human form.

The indelible marks that I make using the movement and weight of my body through different print processes mean my works become containers of energy and the physical self in a way that could be seen as a form of self-portraiture. I am interested in the edge, the boundary between internal and external and particularly skin.

My works carry symbols and emblems, representations of rituals, superstitions, and boundaries or of bodily traces through familiar objects. Through intuitive mark making, I test how I can use automatic drawing and writing as a stream of consciousness, with words mirrored or illegible as a form of protection from the outside world.

Colour is a vital aspect of my work and I use it as a way of illustrating different intensities of movement. The softer, more bodily tones which can be seen as the basis of this work demonstrate slower and heavier movement that often involves using the whole body. These more intricate or concentrated marks are in deeper, more vibrant, and often neon colours. They can be likened to tattoos on skin or embroidery on fabric, penetrating the surface with information.