The culmination of memories. Unnecessary labor of constantly fixing and building… of repeatedly choosing to engage when this is optional. The simultaneously fragile and hearty buildup to the creation of a relationship—and the substantial crumbling if that relationship has had a poor foundation or something that is added to it is unstable. The connectedness we all bear witness to within the greater context of the universe. The simultaneous brokenness and fixedness of humanity—and the fact that we will never be either. These are the concepts I have explored in this work.
I believe it can all be summed up by a truth that provides the groundwork for much of what I believe: We will never be either wholly healed or broken. We all live in a constant state of neither, of both; of striving towards a “whole” state but never really getting there. Perhaps this is a hopeless way to feel, but I feel that it is a relief. (In addition, we are all connected: I have represented this through the use of similar material throughout the piece and with the addition of the red thread, like a stream of lifeblood flowing between each figure).
At the same time, all relationships require a certain amount of tending-to. In particular, my use of plaster—which can be finnicky when used as a wet sculpting material—requires constant attention. The work causes breakage, but this allows for fixing. This was the constant process in making this piece, hence its name: “This is a performance.” I intended for the making of this piece to be an integral part of the piece itself, alongside the fact that each piece is something of a self-portrait: I am constantly growing and breaking, as are the relationships I have with others.
Winter 2018