Artist Statement

 

My parents love to collect things. My mother collects used ribbons, stickers and boxes from the holidays to reuse and pretty containers that once held food now hold old zippers and buttons from articles of clothing that we no longer wear. Similarly, my father takes home outdated and broken electronics to repair, and if things don’t go as planned, he takes them apart to salvage bits and pieces of them, in hopes of transplanting these parts into another old and broken machine. It was easy to tell that the lifespan of any object in my household was a little bit longer than others. Their gentle treatment of these objects always filled me with curiosity and awe, and occasionally, embarrassment, particularly as a child. I remember arriving at school in jeans that were patched at the knees because I had burned holes into them the previous week gliding across the gym during recess playing tag. My younger brother and I used to joke about our patched up laptops being more easily identifiable if we were to lose or misplace them. Sometimes we even wondered if anyone would bother taking them if we were to leave them out unattended for a couple hours. What’s important is that these objects have carry stories!

 

My artistic practice stems from the appreciation of abandoned and used objects that are overlooked. Through them, I explore the concept of identity, value and purpose as I alter them. My practice is a process that explores an object’s transition from being disposable to precious and valuable. This is what appeals to me. Currently, my favourite materials to work with are facial tissues and lost and found knitted mittens and gloves because of the way our bodies interact with these items. When making alterations, I like to work with traditional craft related processes such as embroidery, sewing, and knitting because of the nostalgia it provokes, even in younger generations of people who did not grow up in the time when handkerchiefs were the norm. It is an interesting time to be making this kind of art because of the growing DIY trend. My intention is for my art to become a medium for these objects to speak to viewers in unconventional ways, in an unusual setting.