Aviary. 2013. Solo Exhibition.
Artist Statement
We are all caged in context. Context may be defined as being the “circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed[1].” The context of an idea, an item, or a person greatly influences how that subject is perceived. Everything is subjected to multiple contextual layers ranging from the physical framing the subject to the observer’s psychological perspectives including gender, race, religion, age, knowledge, and personal experiences. It is the impact that context has on our perception that I seek to explore through my work.
In this body of work, I have tackled this idea through the use of bird imagery. Animals have been used in stories throughout history, especially in fables, which anthropomorphizes them to represent certain human characteristics and personalities. The symbolizations of animals established in myths, fables, religions, and even popular culture have shaped our opinion of these creatures, and our opinions have little to do with the actual animal. Of all the animals I have studied, I found birds to be interesting because, as a generic symbol, they represent the soul, angels, supernatural aid, and messengers to the gods[2]. However, different species have different contextual cages in which they reside. For example, doves are seen as symbols of peace and hope, while ravens are harbingers of death. Beyond that, there are “legendary birds” which do not have a direct tie to any species but possess a certain set of supernatural traits.
In my paintings and ceramic works, I do not criticize the existence of differing contexts, but hope to make the viewer aware of their influences. The work is divided into two bodies: the “Context of a Species” and the “Legendary Birds.” For the “Context of a Species,” various bird species are represented through paintings and ceramic sculptures. For the animals within some paintings, their contexts are the two illusionary spaces created for them within the canvases. One space is the creature’s natural environment; while the other is one symbolizing the constructed frameworks we place them in through our stories and popular culture. In other works, the constructed frameworks are alluded to through riddled text. While these pieces are affected by their location within the gallery, different works, including the “Legendary Birds,” are dependent on the viewer’s physical location in relation to the work. The context, and thus the subject, is modified as one’s point of view is changed; a subject must be seen from every angle to be fully understood.
Through my works, I hope to promote an evaluation of the dynamics between individuals and their changing contexts. By examining and acknowledging the power context possesses, we can better understand how we are interpreting the world and how the world is interpreting us. It is one thing we can never escape; we are all caged in context.
[1] “Context.” Oxford Dictionaries. 2012. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.
[2] Cirlot, Juan Eduardo. A Dictionary of Symbols. 2nd edition. Trans. Jack Sage. New York: Dover Publications, 2002.
In this body of work, I have tackled this idea through the use of bird imagery. Animals have been used in stories throughout history, especially in fables, which anthropomorphizes them to represent certain human characteristics and personalities. The symbolizations of animals established in myths, fables, religions, and even popular culture have shaped our opinion of these creatures, and our opinions have little to do with the actual animal. Of all the animals I have studied, I found birds to be interesting because, as a generic symbol, they represent the soul, angels, supernatural aid, and messengers to the gods[2]. However, different species have different contextual cages in which they reside. For example, doves are seen as symbols of peace and hope, while ravens are harbingers of death. Beyond that, there are “legendary birds” which do not have a direct tie to any species but possess a certain set of supernatural traits.
In my paintings and ceramic works, I do not criticize the existence of differing contexts, but hope to make the viewer aware of their influences. The work is divided into two bodies: the “Context of a Species” and the “Legendary Birds.” For the “Context of a Species,” various bird species are represented through paintings and ceramic sculptures. For the animals within some paintings, their contexts are the two illusionary spaces created for them within the canvases. One space is the creature’s natural environment; while the other is one symbolizing the constructed frameworks we place them in through our stories and popular culture. In other works, the constructed frameworks are alluded to through riddled text. While these pieces are affected by their location within the gallery, different works, including the “Legendary Birds,” are dependent on the viewer’s physical location in relation to the work. The context, and thus the subject, is modified as one’s point of view is changed; a subject must be seen from every angle to be fully understood.
Through my works, I hope to promote an evaluation of the dynamics between individuals and their changing contexts. By examining and acknowledging the power context possesses, we can better understand how we are interpreting the world and how the world is interpreting us. It is one thing we can never escape; we are all caged in context.
[1] “Context.” Oxford Dictionaries. 2012. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.
[2] Cirlot, Juan Eduardo. A Dictionary of Symbols. 2nd edition. Trans. Jack Sage. New York: Dover Publications, 2002.
"Haliaeetus leucocephalus"
"Legendary Birds"
Excerpt from Artist Statement for Aviary:
There are “legendary birds” which do not have a direct tie to any species of birds but possess a certain set of supernatural traits... I hope to make the viewer aware of context's influences. While all works are affected by their location within the gallery, different works, including the “Legendary Birds,” are dependent on the viewer’s physical location in relation to the work. The context, and thus the subject, is modified as one’s point of view is changed; a subject must be seen from every angle to be fully understood. |
Legendary BirdStoneware Ceramics
2013 |