Statement

Menstrual cramps. Hangovers. Low self-esteem. Things nobody wants to talk about but need to be said. A person instinctively hides or reveals certain qualities about themselves. People lie or exaggerate the stories they tell to make themselves appear more interesting. They also deflect from their unflattering characteristics. 

My use of pattern and animals in painting helps me to cope with the struggle of over-communicating and filtering information. By combining the figure, love of animals, and pattern, everyday life experiences become reimagined. Each element in a painting has multiple purposes. The use of pattern as a whole is symbolic of the need to ‘filter’ what “should” and “should not” be said in conversation. Furthermore, the pattern is created with symbols relating to the subject and acts as camouflage and code. 

In each painting an animal serves as a metaphor for the object or person it is replacing, like crocodiles biting ovaries as a representation of the pain of menstrual cramps, or a fish louse as a stand-in for bad breath after a night of drinking. In contrast the animal is used to glamorize the mundane. In any culture there is a need for social validation, and it is often attained by carefully selecting parts of ourselves we choose to reveal. By bringing light to regular but often shameful or embarrassing subjects, I hope my art can help reduce stigmas and facilitate an open dialogue.