Artist Statement
The four paintings that I have added into this years’ Artist-In-Residence exhibition reflect my interest in representing the changing relationship between humanity and technology. Each painting, from The Age of Bronze to The Age of Platinum, serves as a form of visual documentation. For this series I have chosen to use elements of painting and printmaking in order to establish a metaphorical timeline. Creating this visual timeline was the most effective way for me to express humanity’s unique relationship with technology. Through the process of visual documentation I am also re-examining the ways in which various technologies have affected our lives and surrounding environment.
The paintings themselves are unified by repeating biomorphic images, revealing human hands, mouths, noses, eyes, and ears. While creating these biomorphic images I became interested in the idea of illustrating a certain level of conflict between humanity and technology. This conflict is conveyed by the appearance of snake-like electrical wires that envelope the biomorphic forms. Each painting reveals varying levels of tension with these seemingly antagonistic electrical wires. Although these illustrations may suggest tension, the analogous color schemes evoke feelings of positivity. The metal inspired colors are designed to reflect various time periods in which humans had differing level of involvement with technology. More specifically, the colors help to signify the visual transition from the primitive, as seen with The Age of Bronze piece, to the futuristic, as seen with The Age of Platinum.
While developing this series I also became interested in associating technology with ideas of preciousness. The wide array of features provided by current technology is both startling and appealing; further adding to its level of desirability and preciousness. As a precious object technology has the ability to make life comfortable, enjoyable, and entertaining. However, there are many troubling side affects that occur when we treat technology as a precious object. My concerns and ideas regarding technology and the precious object are illustrated through the use of analogous colors in combination with complex printed imagery. Once again, the varying levels and stages of preciousness relate back to my ideas concerning humanity’s relationship with technology and how it has evolved throughout time.