monotypes: Animal Study

 This work focuses on themes of memory and loss, through the use of ambiguous narratives based on feelings or events from my past. The work depicts non-domesticated animals that act in ways that are natural yet also reflective of human behaviors.

Recently my work has focused on birds, particularly crows and ravens. Often depicted as “bad omens” in folk lore and common myth, crows and ravens have been given a generally negative reputation in culture. Perhaps these superstitious associations stem from their natural attributes as birds of prey and scavengers. Yet, despite their reputations, I find them to be curious and misunderstood. Like people, animals aren’t inherently good or bad nor can we always control what happens to us. Therefore, the animals in my work have the potential to be protagonists, antagonists, and victims at various times. There’s a complexity to each individual and a lot of the time it comes down to perspective. The way they interact with each other, objects and with this space becomes communicates the narrative. Other animals such as deer and wolfs are being integrated into my work as I explore this new body.

The desire to communicate to and with animals is interesting to me. There’s a longing to connect to them, yet an inability to get close. Usually, any interaction with a wild animal is very fleeting. Much like a memory of something lost or someone who’s passed. The unattainable can only be felt and reflected on. I see connections to memories of people, or precious things lost as being just as fleeting. Sometimes a memory is all that’s left. Memories can become distorted over time but there are usually pieces that remain clear to us. The intensity of an event or closeness to a thing or person are usually at those points of focus. So, the animal becomes the focus in representing these situations.  

The space around my subjects is defined by rich black voids, that masks my subjects, creating a non-distinguishable space or time. This keeps the focus on the animals and objects but also suggests to the viewer that they are intruding or stumbling upon a moment, conversation or something about to happen. The darkness alludes to mystery and the unknown. It’s a place to get lost in or make discoveries. The dark shadows everything and only reveals to the viewer small amounts of information at a time. When I think of the dark there’s a sense of suspense in not knowing what’s out there looking back at me, following or running away. There’s belief that we become closer to spirits and animals at night or in the dark because it is their domain over ours. Our sight becomes poor in the dark unless we shine a light. It’s both terrifying and beautiful.