L'esprit de l'escalier, or staircase wit, is a French term used in English to describe the predicament of thinking of the perfect reply too late. This expression, retrospective in nature, perfectly aligns with my search for inspiration. Often, looking back at what has previously occurred in my life or the lives of those around me, I find myself inspired by my own personal path. This expression also serves as a reminder to put thought and expression into every body of work. It is my mother’s favorite expression, and like my muse, it is from France. I dedicate my work to them for
their constant support and encouragement
their constant support and encouragement
“Scarred”
Layered delicately with 4 unique layers of cloth, “Scarred” delves into the realm of beauty, pain and vulnerability. Scars are
visible on the surface, while those within remain forever concealed and perpetually unhealed. With this piece, I explore the
concept of exposing what is felt within to illuminate the beauty within the horror. Through meticulous hand-distressing of the
cloth, I sought to uncover a sobering truth: humanity and society is often the primary cause of our own demise. In this case, the
fear of judgement is what pushes these scars into secrecy. Other than creating visual distressing of the piece such as tearing and scabbing I subjected the piece to environments that accelerate its deterioration, displaying the sensation of decay. Ultimately, I hope to highlight the fragility and beauty of our spirit acting as a reminder to the observer that every single human soul is fighting its own, often silent battle.
“Spiral”
Composed of denim, lace and leather, the spiral piece investigates the feeling of spiraling into nothingness and gradually losing everything significant. To showcase this sensation, the prominent spiral motif serves as a visual representation of slowly venturing towards a void. Throughout the spiral is a lace that holds everything together, referring to the fragility of life and evoking the notion of it hanging by a thread. The leather patch at the back, embossed with the word LORE, serves as a signature that this piece is part of a broader series. The essence of this piece is to explore the pervasive theme of addiction, which always finds a way to affect nearly everyone at one point or another. The physical experience of spiraling is something I have personally felt, as have many who surround me. I felt obligated to underscore the resilience of the human spirit, and the attempt to keep the ones you love in mind even in the throes of addiction. Even in young adulthood, it felt unfathomable and unnecessary to explore the possibility of losing someone I faced my entire life up until that point with. In creating LORE, I felt compelled to spotlight the most impactful emotions I have encountered, anchoring them into the art pieces I create.
“Trinity”
Composed of nickel and leather, Trinity is the centerpiece representing the entirety of the LORE series. Three symbols attached
to one piece of leather tell the story of LORE. On the left, is a covered angel with feathered wings. This symbol is representative of birth, the commencement of my life. The middle symbol, LORE in all caps, serves as a representation of a life changing story that marks the true beginning of my artistic journey. In this story, a hopeless man finds purpose after picking a flower of unparalleled beauty. This man, lost and useless, finds a reason to keep breathing after encountering this flower. The final symbol, which is a grim reaper, rather than representing an end, serves as a reminder of the impermanence of our existence and wanting to create a legacy before disappearing for eternity. When all these symbols are put together, they act as a reminder to face adversity and find their own “flower” that will help them realize their own potential to create a lasting impact before departure.
Layered delicately with 4 unique layers of cloth, “Scarred” delves into the realm of beauty, pain and vulnerability. Scars are
visible on the surface, while those within remain forever concealed and perpetually unhealed. With this piece, I explore the
concept of exposing what is felt within to illuminate the beauty within the horror. Through meticulous hand-distressing of the
cloth, I sought to uncover a sobering truth: humanity and society is often the primary cause of our own demise. In this case, the
fear of judgement is what pushes these scars into secrecy. Other than creating visual distressing of the piece such as tearing and scabbing I subjected the piece to environments that accelerate its deterioration, displaying the sensation of decay. Ultimately, I hope to highlight the fragility and beauty of our spirit acting as a reminder to the observer that every single human soul is fighting its own, often silent battle.
“Spiral”
Composed of denim, lace and leather, the spiral piece investigates the feeling of spiraling into nothingness and gradually losing everything significant. To showcase this sensation, the prominent spiral motif serves as a visual representation of slowly venturing towards a void. Throughout the spiral is a lace that holds everything together, referring to the fragility of life and evoking the notion of it hanging by a thread. The leather patch at the back, embossed with the word LORE, serves as a signature that this piece is part of a broader series. The essence of this piece is to explore the pervasive theme of addiction, which always finds a way to affect nearly everyone at one point or another. The physical experience of spiraling is something I have personally felt, as have many who surround me. I felt obligated to underscore the resilience of the human spirit, and the attempt to keep the ones you love in mind even in the throes of addiction. Even in young adulthood, it felt unfathomable and unnecessary to explore the possibility of losing someone I faced my entire life up until that point with. In creating LORE, I felt compelled to spotlight the most impactful emotions I have encountered, anchoring them into the art pieces I create.
“Trinity”
Composed of nickel and leather, Trinity is the centerpiece representing the entirety of the LORE series. Three symbols attached
to one piece of leather tell the story of LORE. On the left, is a covered angel with feathered wings. This symbol is representative of birth, the commencement of my life. The middle symbol, LORE in all caps, serves as a representation of a life changing story that marks the true beginning of my artistic journey. In this story, a hopeless man finds purpose after picking a flower of unparalleled beauty. This man, lost and useless, finds a reason to keep breathing after encountering this flower. The final symbol, which is a grim reaper, rather than representing an end, serves as a reminder of the impermanence of our existence and wanting to create a legacy before disappearing for eternity. When all these symbols are put together, they act as a reminder to face adversity and find their own “flower” that will help them realize their own potential to create a lasting impact before departure.