At the intersection of body and machine lies the question of autonomy; who ultimately is in control? My artwork aims to explore the nature of this intimate relationship and the extent to which technology has already taken over our society. Through life-sized moving sculptures with human figure references, I explore the mechanized nature of aging, decomposition, and a life lived. As a kinetic sculptor who relies on motors, gears, and pulleys as well as chance-based movement to create the sense of time unfurling, I draw inspiration from Jean Tinguely, Tim Hawkinson, and Jordan Wolfson. Composed of discarded found objects and skin-like silicone, my sculptures are experiences that mimic the chaos, trauma, and tension of a human life.
Hometown?
Greenville, South Carolina.
Major/minor?
Studio Art major.
What is your primary medium?
I tend to work with a wide range of mediums, including 2D ones like mixed media, painting, and printmaking. However, recently I have been focusing on kinetic sculpture, and my works in the show are composed of scrap metal (primarily steel), found objects (old car and bicycle parts as well as lab equipment and other donated objects), hardware & mechanical elements (gears, motors, bearings, pulleys, etc.) and a variety of other miscellaneous materials. Mold-making has also become an important part of my process, during which I use plaster and various types of silicone and foam.
What does the title of your show mean?
The title of my show is intended to place the physical body in the context of time passing and to emphasize the concepts of lifespan and aging that are naturally present in time-based work. In addition, the title Body In Time is a reference to the phrase “in time,” which we say to indicate that something will occur eventually and inevitably.
What do you feel is the most significant piece in the exhibition and why? What is your favorite piece and why?
I think that Brain is the most significant piece in my show because it best represents my progress in kinetic sculpture; as it is essentially the accumulation of all the techniques I’ve learned while studying art at Davidson. In addition, it required the most complex mold-making, mechanics, and circuit-building, and it has changed the most from start to finish out of any of my kinetic sculptures. However, my favorite is probably Lips because it was my first truly successful kinetic sculpture, and finishing it really sparked an interest in pursuing this type of art more intently.
How will art and the process of making continue to play a role in your life after graduation?
As cheesy as it sounds, I have always known that I wanted to be an artist! My mom says that I have been making art from the time I was first able to hold a Crayon, and I know that this love for art will never truly go away. Next year will hopefully be my first year of studying art in graduate school, where I will continue to work on kinetic sculptures. At some point in my art career I would also like to work with animatronics and prosthetic special effects in the film industry.