Exhibition Artist Statement

Art school has flipped my world inside out, and it’s honestly the best thing that’s ever happened to me. After a lifetime of wrestling with mental health issues, I’ve found my space in the chaos. Working with expanding foam, gap filler, cement, fabrics, netting and found objects, I play with the possibilities of these materials and finding processes to bring them to life.

I never know where I’m going when I start and I like it that way. It’s all impulse and instinct. I let the materials take the lead, and somehow, things always end up making sense. Most of the time, it feels like the materials are in charge, not me.

And then there’s pink... oh man, pink! It sneaks into everything I do. From soft blush to screaming neon, it brings me pure joy. It appears like a mischievous little imp that won’t leave me alone. It’s everywhere and I’ve accepted it. Why fight the colour that makes me happiest?

I also love the varied outcomes that can occur with different configurations when installing my work. Figuring out how to make everything hang and flow - that’s a whole experience in itself. It’s like a dance with gravity, except sometimes gravity wins, and I’m left wondering why I thought hanging a chain in mid-air was a good idea. But when it all comes together, there’s a magic to it. Everything feels connected in this interlinked pink universe of mine.

Then there’s my painting work - big abstract pieces slathered in gap filler. I layer, sand, carve and then add more, seeing what emerges. It’s messy, it’s physical, and totally intuitive. For me, art is a constant conversation with the materials. I let go and in that letting go, I discover things I didn’t expect, both about the work and myself. Art isn’t just my outlet, it’s my lifeline, pink-tinted and all.