Curatorial Statement
Each work in my exhibition has an aspect of the splattering technique I used to paint. I decided to use this technique because it resembled my messy and busy life as a senior in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. By refining the skill of splattering, I hoped to control the direction of the paint and possibly my life. This idea led me to my theme for this year, transitions. This theme symbolizes the transitions that I have seen or undergone throughout my life. The piece Fallen Leaves and the series Forest Floor consist of the transitions between the seasons of summer, fall, and winter. I liked the idea of splattering paint to create a tree on a leaf for these works, because it contradicted the typical relationship between a tree and a leaf by using a leaf as my support and presenting the idea of a tree on a leaf, instead of a leaf on a tree.
The work Goals was inspired by a leadership conference where I learned the importance of sharing one’s goals with others. The purpose of this piece is for the viewer to see how the types of goals individuals construct for themselves change throughout their life. The viewer is intended to remember the goals they have set for them-self at different stages in their life and see the similarities and differences between the goals of the various age groups. Another work, Hidden Thoughts resulted from my lack of inspiration and stress from IB. I had been trying to control my stress by placing it in a box to think about later. This feeling helped me create my concept of boxing up one’s thoughts to be shipped off. From viewing this piece I hope the viewer will not only look at the box, but also attempt to look inside of it, similar to how an individual would help another with their hidden thoughts and feelings.
For my exhibition I knew I would need a large space for my Goals project and my Forest Floor series. My Goals piece is my largest piece and consumes a vast amount of space on a wall. I wanted to place my series Forest Floor on the floor, since it resembles leaves on the ground. However I did not want to place these projects on the black and white tile floor, because it would distract the viewer from the works. Therefore I arranged the series on a black cloth to stand out against the floor and create a place for my five projects. These works were arranged on the cloth by placing the three larger pieces on the front edge of the cloth and the two smaller works were placed behind the these to show depth in the forest. Since this work was going to be on the floor, I wanted a large open space to display my work, so the viewer could easily walk around and view each piece.
The space I chose for my exhibition had two windows and a tree in the corner. I could not move the tree because of the different heights of the ceiling throughout the room, so I had to make it work for me. I liked the placement of the windows in my exhibition because it brought light to the corner of the room and the areas in front of the window. I arranged my project Hidden Thoughts in front of one of the windows on a pedestal to allow the light coming from the window to shine through the holes within the box. This would allow the viewer to see inside of it. I wanted to place my next pedestal with my Fallen Leaves project near the other window as well. In order to work with the tree near the window, I decided to place the pedestal in an opening in the tree branches. This created a correlation between the tree and my project consisting of leaves and a tree. In between the two windows was a small area that allowed me to hang my series The Growth of Trees. I arranged this piece in a diagonal to create movement as the tree transitioned to different stages in its life.
The work Goals was inspired by a leadership conference where I learned the importance of sharing one’s goals with others. The purpose of this piece is for the viewer to see how the types of goals individuals construct for themselves change throughout their life. The viewer is intended to remember the goals they have set for them-self at different stages in their life and see the similarities and differences between the goals of the various age groups. Another work, Hidden Thoughts resulted from my lack of inspiration and stress from IB. I had been trying to control my stress by placing it in a box to think about later. This feeling helped me create my concept of boxing up one’s thoughts to be shipped off. From viewing this piece I hope the viewer will not only look at the box, but also attempt to look inside of it, similar to how an individual would help another with their hidden thoughts and feelings.
For my exhibition I knew I would need a large space for my Goals project and my Forest Floor series. My Goals piece is my largest piece and consumes a vast amount of space on a wall. I wanted to place my series Forest Floor on the floor, since it resembles leaves on the ground. However I did not want to place these projects on the black and white tile floor, because it would distract the viewer from the works. Therefore I arranged the series on a black cloth to stand out against the floor and create a place for my five projects. These works were arranged on the cloth by placing the three larger pieces on the front edge of the cloth and the two smaller works were placed behind the these to show depth in the forest. Since this work was going to be on the floor, I wanted a large open space to display my work, so the viewer could easily walk around and view each piece.
The space I chose for my exhibition had two windows and a tree in the corner. I could not move the tree because of the different heights of the ceiling throughout the room, so I had to make it work for me. I liked the placement of the windows in my exhibition because it brought light to the corner of the room and the areas in front of the window. I arranged my project Hidden Thoughts in front of one of the windows on a pedestal to allow the light coming from the window to shine through the holes within the box. This would allow the viewer to see inside of it. I wanted to place my next pedestal with my Fallen Leaves project near the other window as well. In order to work with the tree near the window, I decided to place the pedestal in an opening in the tree branches. This created a correlation between the tree and my project consisting of leaves and a tree. In between the two windows was a small area that allowed me to hang my series The Growth of Trees. I arranged this piece in a diagonal to create movement as the tree transitioned to different stages in its life.
Exhibition
Fallen Leaves (November 2015)
Found leaves and acrylic paint. 8.1in x 9.3in (20.6cm x 23.6cm) As summer turns into fall the leaves begin to change and fall from the trees. This piece captures this seasonal transition. The leaves are placed overlapping one another to model when leaves fall from trees on to the ground. A barren tree is splatter painted on to the leaves to show that they have fallen. |
Goals (December 2015)
Acrylic paint on cardstock
100in. x 26in. (254cm. x 66cm.)
I gathered goals from individuals of 5 to 92 years of age to express the transition of goals throughout people’s lives. I was inspired to create this work after I attended a leadership conference that taught me the importance of sharing one's goals with others. Through this project I hope that people can learn something about themselves and others.
Acrylic paint on cardstock
100in. x 26in. (254cm. x 66cm.)
I gathered goals from individuals of 5 to 92 years of age to express the transition of goals throughout people’s lives. I was inspired to create this work after I attended a leadership conference that taught me the importance of sharing one's goals with others. Through this project I hope that people can learn something about themselves and others.
Hidden Thoughts (December 2015)
Acrylic paint, tape, box 8in. x 8in. x 6in. (20.3cm. x 20.3cm. x 15.2cm.) The inside of the box is composed of splattered paint in various colors to express the thoughts that people place in it that they want to forget and ship away. However, these thoughts eventually leak out. The holes on the box allow another person to look inside in order to assist a person with their messy thoughts. |