CALM ~ CHAOS

Narrative will forever be a part of the human existence. It is a way in which we learn and share collective experience. When we are in crisis we all have different coping mechanisms which allow us to relate to one another. For some people music is the connecting point, for others photography, painting, the list goes on. In this piece, I wanted to explore the power in expression through our hands. Our hands serve as a universal language giving us ways to understand each other through a more common ground outside of the spoken word. This mirrors the way creativity can bring us together. By using a selected series of hand images, I am paying tribute to the way we experience a difficult period. Sometimes we experience it alone, sometimes in trepidation with others, other times actively supported by others. There are stages and ways in which our desire to share and face our hardships as a human, shifts. I do believe that in the end it is about coming together in community as we are innately built for connection. Through our phases we deepen our understanding of ourselves and what we need as a collective which in turn allows us to rethink how we want to continue to approach our lives. The same way a crisis forces us to adapt. Creative work serves as a contained view into what is possible because it touches a deeper part of our humanity, our souls. Creative work can also challenge the status quo by forcing us to question ourselves thus impacting our political, ethical and moral views based on what the artist is trying to communicate to us and how we receive the information. My hope is that my work challenges our emotional response to our hardships, however I always enjoy leaving it up for individual interpretation. This piece was awarded Jury Special Mention by the Vivendi Creativity and Diversity Scholarship.