In Given Time Collage

Collage on Canvas. Assembled from antique textbooks (mathematics, astronomy, navigation, science, engineering, etc.), pornography, animal photography, vinyl tape, paper flowers, lettering and found objects. Artwork wraps around all four sides. Framed in ebony stained wood enclosure. STATEMENT: Like the collages themselves, each of these works has many layers of meaning. On the surface they examine social and cultural issues of sexuality and obsolescence. And on a deeper level they are a way for me to express my emotional life. This body of work specifically documents the recent ending of a long-term relationship. In today’s age of anti-intellectualism, the backdrop of antique scientific texts brings into question the relevancy of facts, truth and knowledge. The very paper they are printed on questions the importance of the book in today’s digital world. Is there a link between the death of print and the death of facts? In the past, truth was permanent, printed down in hardcover books. In a digital age, they change, update, are distorted, misrepresented. While the use of pornography may be seen as a purely sexual statement, it is also equally about obsolescence as well. My work only incorporates original source material. The challenge of finding imagery that works together at the size and orientation that it is found is part of the craft. And in sourcing the pornography I found it to be a little more difficult acquiring printed magazines as now the majority of material is online. In the past my work has centered around the juxtaposition of people and animals and I’ve continued that here. I believe that we often lose sight of the fact that underneath all our intellect, civility and piety, we are all simply animals. We are driven by base desires. Sexuality being one that we particularly try to suppress specifically because it so unashamedly confronts us with our animal nature. This new body of work uses pornography to bring this issue of sexuality upfront to the center. On a personal level, these paintings represent a multitude of emotions. Feelings of being intertwined, conjoined and entangled. Feelings of individuality, freedom and longing. Feelings of hope, doubt and ultimately, acceptance.