LANG INK BECOMES YOU
Artist Statement
The perception of beauty found in the image of a tattooed body has changed greatly over the ages from both societal and cultural perspectives.
Today there has become an almost fashionable standard to the art of body inking.
Tattoos in the past were almost a judgemental classification, association with levels of working class, gangs, or criminal codes.
THIEVED
Artist Statement
‘Thieved Part 1, 2 and 3’ reflects and comments on deforestation. The habitat stolen, butchered, and lost.
The sharp contrasts, gnarled, and textured patches and empty voids represent the gashes and rips in the earth’s surface created by bulldozers and felling equipment. The feathers represent the now deceased, disorientated, maimed and homeless.
The limited colour palette and restricted medium signals the extent of the devastating destruction, and what is left is devoid of colour, diversity, and life.
Sadly, these acts are not limited to wildlife. Humans at the hand of other humans suffer the same fate, destruction, life scars and death.
SCREWED
Artist Statement
This little boat did have two engines, twin screw, with intent it was required that the anchor was discharged. Set adrift to navigate on a single engine with rudder intact I can hear my father say “Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own”.
THE MOTION OF TRANSITION
Part 1. SOPHIE and Part 2. ALEX (diptych)
Artist Statement
This work is my interpretation of a point in time when a close friend’s child whilst navigating the journey of adolescence was transitioning from Sophie (female) to Alex (male). Both panels of the diptych are executed in Grisaille, the method of painting entirely in shades of grey.
The work is a response to the current limited transgender rights and how they impact the use of bathroom facilities. My view is that we are all individuals and should be treated accordingly, that there is no black and white in assessing and documenting, all is a myriad of greys a reflection of diversity.
Everyday we are bombarded by pictograms and if nature calls, we are guided by an image of a person in pants or a dress. The signage is not literal it only exposes how culture, or a political view requires our gender to ‘look’, revealing the designated door it directs us to respond to. This issue I believe requires an ongoing informed dialogue.