Artist Statement
Taking inspiration from contemporary psychoanalysis, my work examines the existential condition, particularly those components of our psyche that are hidden from view, and deeply personal. I explore how those may be captured through art, in physical forms that evoke an emotion and narrative beyond the sum of parts. I am focused on revealing obscured layers of human psychology that transcend the limitations of place, time, ethnic background, and gender, and I am motivated by those artists and thinkers who bridge the gap between thought and art, such as the writer and artist Gao Xingjian, whose novel Soul Mountain is a source I return to constantly. Another strong influence is contemporary psychoanalysis, amongst others the writings of Slavoj Žižek, and the writings and art of Bracha Ettinger.
Continuous reinvention of the process is an important element of my practice. The initial experimentation phase starts with the aim of allowing the psychological content of the work to reveal itself in parallel with the form and choice of materials, leading to a new direction with each iteration. I have worked in both digital and more traditional materials, and I am currently looking into producing virtual work. Along with a colleague, I started the Art Enthusiasts’ Meetup Group, in Penang, Malaysia, which led us to organise a large exhibition featuring 40 Penang based artists. From 2010 to 2015, I founded and directed ArtFunkl Artists’ Residency and Initiative, based in Manchester, and Cumbria, UK, and Valencia, Spain, which from 2015 onwards has continued to have an online presence. |