Art Description (What inspired you to create the artwork?) As a photographer, my work typically consists of single frame images constrained to broadly accepted theories of composition and colour; my personal work tries to provoke thought through juxtaposition and twisting of the familiar, sometimes forgotten, or sacred.
I find the process of collage as not only liberating but a powerful means of creating a visual message that often resonates stronger than any single image can. Through collage I am able to compose and manipulate images and media in ways they were never initially intended in order to freely explore the use of narrative, form, colour and pattern. While the photos that comprise my collages were captured in a fraction of a second, I find cathartic the creative process of being able to reflect and “live” with these images as they are transformed into layers of introspection and discovery.
The images, letters and X-Rays that comprise this piece were curated over a period of two years. A period of personal loss, pain and struggle for myself; I’ve tried to capture these emotions which also mark the period of the global COVID-19 pandemic. A period that for many still feels surreal and has brought about shared feelings of turmoil, division, lost freedoms and identity.
Reflecting on the past two years, it’s incredible how fragile and interconnected many of our lives have become. How quickly lives and dreams can be broken; and more importantly, how quickly they can be rebuilt.