soCurio | art is for everyone

As soon as we are born we go through a process of growth and eventual decay. The same can be said for the things we build and the cities we live in. Everything around us is in a constant state of decomposition and renewal.

I have always been interested in the processes of aging, finding a certain beauty in the less than perfect characteristics of things that have grown old. In past works I have found satisfaction in exploring a subject’s imperfections, imperfections that are acquired through the process of aging. These works are not meant to be seen as exploitation but rather as truth. I want the viewer to be aware, and hopefully embrace these imperfections.
After recently moving into a highly populated, older urban neighborhood, I have started to pay close attention to the landscape of this the city that is constantly surrounding me. I have taken great notice to the smaller, less noticeable pieces of what could be seen as a giant puzzle-like metropolis. When taking a closer look at these seemingly unimportant, utilitarian objects, there is a beauty in the rust, graffiti and corrosion that has built up over time.

I am influenced by artists such as Ed Kienholz, Robert Rauschenberg and William S. Burroughs, whose work deals with the process of manipulation. All of these artists used manipulation in their work to convey their views on society. With this in mind, my work is meant to confront the value that society puts on the new. I explore everyday objects that have been, or will be replaced by new technology. The objects that I choose are meant to act as a metaphor for the decay of the urban experience, while at the same time being glorified as things that are monumental. Many of these objects have gone extinct in our eyes, lingering around as a footprint for new generations to look upon.

Like Kienholz, Rauschenberg and Burroughs, I use this process of manipulation to evoke a feeling of decay that has resulted from the aging process. Layers are added and taken away, giving the work a look of corrosion and deterioration. In a way the materials I use go through the same process as the objects being represented.