My artistic process explores the intricate relationship between my body and the traumatic
experiences it harbours. As a survivor of abuse and sexual assault, I've grappled with a sense of
disconnection from my own body – as though I am a separate entity living inside it. This coping
mechanism initially offered protection by allowing me to compartmentalize pain, grief, and
trauma, but it became clear that the harder I fought these emotional remnants, the more they
demanded acknowledgment. I've come to accept that these lived experiences will always be a
part of me, and through my art, aim to transmute the sharp, stinging pain into something still and
quiet – something that can be comfortably lived with.
Referencing my torso for size, I handbuild biomorphic sculptures from clay, finishing
them with glaze that mimics the dewy texture of raw clay, using a palette derived from my skin
tone and bruises. These sculptures incorporate organic elements like cellulite, bones, and organs,
often surrounding a central orifice which invites exploration from every angle. Square
oil-on-panel portraits painted of these sculptures in surrealistic colours provide a static, filtered
view of the sculptures, evoking the control and compartmentalization that once defined my
approach to these memories.
Throughout my work, I am seeking embodiment through abstraction to echo the
whispers of my past whilst embracing possibilities of the future. Abstraction provides a layer of
protection, allowing me to share these totems of trauma publicly, and creates an intriguing,
almost magical aura – a shared secret for those who linger a bit longer and look a bit closer.
experiences it harbours. As a survivor of abuse and sexual assault, I've grappled with a sense of
disconnection from my own body – as though I am a separate entity living inside it. This coping
mechanism initially offered protection by allowing me to compartmentalize pain, grief, and
trauma, but it became clear that the harder I fought these emotional remnants, the more they
demanded acknowledgment. I've come to accept that these lived experiences will always be a
part of me, and through my art, aim to transmute the sharp, stinging pain into something still and
quiet – something that can be comfortably lived with.
Referencing my torso for size, I handbuild biomorphic sculptures from clay, finishing
them with glaze that mimics the dewy texture of raw clay, using a palette derived from my skin
tone and bruises. These sculptures incorporate organic elements like cellulite, bones, and organs,
often surrounding a central orifice which invites exploration from every angle. Square
oil-on-panel portraits painted of these sculptures in surrealistic colours provide a static, filtered
view of the sculptures, evoking the control and compartmentalization that once defined my
approach to these memories.
Throughout my work, I am seeking embodiment through abstraction to echo the
whispers of my past whilst embracing possibilities of the future. Abstraction provides a layer of
protection, allowing me to share these totems of trauma publicly, and creates an intriguing,
almost magical aura – a shared secret for those who linger a bit longer and look a bit closer.
