From a very young age, I wanted to be an artist. I was discouraged from it because of the lack of financial stability. It isn’t something I’m willing to give up anymore but I feel really behind because of how long I went without creating anything. I began making art again as I needed an outlet for the things I did not know how to say. There are feelings I will never be able to express and conversations I will never be able to have with others. Recreating these experiences in a tangible manner allows me to understand them and let them go.
Hiss (December 2024)
Oil on paper
Petit Dejeuner (December 2024)
Acrylic on paper
Entropy (June 2024)
Acrylic on canvas
"One may transmit evil to a human being by flattering him or giving him comforts and pleasures; but most often men transmit evil to other men by doing them harm" -Simone Weil
I have spent a lot of time ignoring unresolved trauma and distracting myself in ways that ultimately hurt myself and others. Rather than face my issues head on, I lied to myself and diverted my attention to quick sources or temporary happiness hurting my mental and physical health even more. In the process, I did awful things and hurt people I loved so much. My pain has caused me to hurt other people because I spent so long ignoring it. I am infectious.
I know this sounds corny but at one point I thought to myself "I need to rip myself open and find what part of me is so hurt that I could be so capable of hurting others." Rather than pretending that I was unaffected by all the times I have been hurt in my childhood, I accepted and admitted that I have been hurt. In doing so I am at peace now but I never found a definitive answer. I don't really think there is one. I think humans are irrational beings and the world is an illogical place. I think I rationalized my behavior because of the ways I'd been hurt but that's just pretty stupid. I don't know why I did what I did but I do know that I will never do it again. I could never expect to be forgiven though. I really don't care that this is my first time living, I should have known better and I should have done better.
Shhwwwhsshshhsshh (December 2023)
Acrylic on canvas
Thinkthinkthinkthinktwinkthink (April 2022)
Gouache and acrylic on paper
The circular magazine clipping and tissue paper stemming from the figure in the center of the piece are symbolic of the overwhelming amount of thoughts the individual has as they pay attention to different aspects of societal expectations. Wealth, beauty, and religion are pronounced topics in this individual’s thoughts. As the individual focuses their attention on these matters trying to adhere to them, they are being drained of energy. The overwhelmingness of the magazine clippings are symbolic of the inescapable societal implications of the necessity of certain things. In a flawed way of thinking, one must be rich and one must be beauty and most of all one must have ideas that do not clash with those of others in order to fit in. The figure has completely lost their sense of self in trying to keep up with all that they believe they must be.
Little Fish Swim Away (October 2023)
Block print collage on paper
In Buddhism, fish are symbolic of freedom as they may swim wherever they may please. The two golden fish swimming upstream against currents symbolize the struggle against worldly desires and attachments and being freed through a deeper understanding of themselves and the appreciation of their environment. The monochrome fish represent those who have a more narrow perspective, often seeing situations as more black and white. The fish in this circle swim inwards, attempting to be part of a society they do not see as flawed or do not care is flawed.
Madiana (October 2022)
Collage and acrylic on paper
Il y a quelques années, je suis allée au Village de la Poterie en Martinique et j'ai vu les créations de Sylvain Fillon. Beaucoup de poteries qu'il crée faisaient image à la Martinique et la culture Martiniquaise. J'ai adoré ce qu'il faisait et j'étais beaucoup inspiré par lui. Une des œuvre qui m'a plus marqué c'était ses pièces de décoration murales, des hommes et des femmes typiques Martiniquais de profil. J'ai décidé de recréer la dame que j'ai vu sur les murs des maisons de mes tantes. La femme, qui pourrait un foulard et des bouge d'oreilles créole. Le foulard fait en tissu madras qui vient initialement d’Inde et qui est souvent utilisé pour le linge antillais traditionnel. Les créoles qu’elle porte symbolise la féminité des femme Antilles. Pour crée cette œuvre, j’ai utilisée des photos que j'ai pris de la Martinique et j'ai découpée en petit morceau pour donnée des formes à la femme. Les photos que j’ai prise c’était des photos des personnes, de la culture, du paysage, et les établissements Martiniquais pour montrer que ces aspects de la société façonnent son identité.
Plusieurs années après, je suis allé chez le monsieur pour acheter le fameux couple qui a inspiré une de mes première œuvre d'art dont j'étais vraiment fière. J'ai montré au monsieur ce que j'avais fait et je lui ai expliqué comment il m'avait inspiré. Il était tellement content de ça qui m'a ouvert une vaste page pour pouvoir « m'exprimer artistement » comme il dit. Il a parlé des stages qu’il a fait au sud de la France et en Espagne pour s'inspirer d'autre chose. Il a renforcé l’idée qu'il faut aller voir des nouvelles choses pour pouvoir continuer de créer des nouvelles choses. L'art est une chose très importante spécialement dans une société qui a leur de ne plus la valorisé.
Addict... (May 2023)
Colored pencil and acrylic on paper
I used to feel overwhelmed with societal expectations of how to look and how to act. Having social media from a very young age only reinforced these ideas. At some point, I became very obsessed with my appearance and felt I needed to look a specific way to be attractive. The over saturation of colors signifies the overwhelming expectations imposed upon the youth through social media consumption. The rough state of the individual shows the harmful impact of social media on one’s mental and thus physical health. Additionally, the blank stare of the figure is symbolic of an almost hypnotic state.
Woman Who Lives in a Lily Filled World and Sits at a Black Table (January 2024)
Acrylic on canvas
Sprinkle Sprinkle (January 2024)
Acrylic on canvas
Conjoinoinoingroin (March 2024)
Acrylic on paper
Everything we have experienced and everyone we have known have shaped us into who we are. As the spirals of this piece differ in color and shape they show how we are constantly influenced by our interactions and influencing others and show how anything that has happened, is happening, or will happen impacts everything that has happened, is happening, or will happen.
Additionally, the spirals in this piece represent conversations between individuals as they overlap. They portray the spread of information, and as they change in shape, size and color, they show the slight or large change in context of these conversations in which information is retold.
Timelines (August, November, December 2023)
Acrylic on paper
Gyat (July 2024)
Acrylic on canvas, commission piece
