DISTANCE
2020
Statement
Using the portrait as the starting point for my work, I have been looking at the transition between, and the breaking down of, subject to object. By reducing the subject to its basic form and stripping away its recognizable details, I hope to confront and question both my connection with the subject as well as the connection between the subject and viewer. Without the ability to clearly recognize the features and emotions of the subject, there becomes a vague sense of unease or discomfort about the ability to easily understand and connect with the subject. This group of portraits consists of a wide range of people in my life: from close friends to acquaintances, family members to roommates. The varying degrees of relationships that I have with each subject affects the way that I view them, but it doesn’t affect the fact that I will never truly know them in their entirety.
I look for inspiration in artists such as Rembrandt, Andrew Wyeth, and Käthe Kollwitz. Using a monochromatic palette allows me to focus more on the basic elements of light, dark, texture, and composition. It also forces me to take a step back from the person that I know and view them as just a variation of values. By reducing the figures to their highlights and shadows, I am able to reveal certain aspects of their emotions and characteristics while leaving their thoughts and intentions concealed. The use of transient materials like charcoal powder on paper represents the temporality and fragility of the subject and the memories and emotions associated with them. These materials also aid in creating a very physical and tactile connection to the work. Using my hands to apply and manipulate the charcoal powder brings me physically closer to understanding of my subjects.