How do we define life? What/Who do we consider to be alive? What exactly is consciousness? While science has many strengths, explaining these burning questions is not one of them. Science offers no consensus in the way we define life, or who/what we consider to be alive and conscious. Science fails. It is within these failures that my curiosity ignites.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve easily empathized with non-humans. From raindrops to dust particles, I love and respect all beings. I often find myself confused by the hierarchy of values society pushes, and in turn, my seemingly strange values are also met with confusion by the norm. I view all energy and matter as being alive, cycling through their own unique process before being broken down and redistributed as energy in a new form. I believe that life’s cycles are non-linear, rather a never-ending helix. Within this helix, I believe us all to be interconnected, human and non. These values drive me and my practice, which in turn, feeds my soul.
My fascination with life’s mysteries and the belief that we are all interconnected has introduced a new material to my practice, Mycelium. This fungal root system can be found below the earth’s surface and is composed of countless individual strands (hypha) that interconnect forming a colossal network. In sculpting this material, I seek to glorify the network and highlight impermanence given their constant state of flux. The forms I create are inspired by all things found in nature from slugs to bugs, I find myself reimagining many of my favorite beings. Following my curiosities and engaging with materials, I seek to redistribute my own energy into my work, resulting in strange yet familiar expression and aesthetic. I hope to ignite a sense of curiosity as the audience questions what/who meets their gaze.
