Artist Statement:
As a challenge, the verbs "to tear and to pair," in the context "of waves," was used to inform the aesthetic and context of this work. Although representative of the verbs and context used to describe its action, it is difficult to imagine the piece as being separate from nature, due to the context ‘of waves’. The verb ‘to pair’ immediately feels intimate, since objects belonging to a pair must also belong to one another, while ‘to tear’ gives the impression of something sinister and deconstructive, such as a separation. Therefore, two very similarly shaped waves mirror each other with their dynamic and organic features, resulting in waves that are more surreal than naturalistic. The waves’ relationship to each other is very important, since the pair work as an acting metaphor for the dependency that life has on nature, as the two waves lean on each other precariously to remain upright and balanced; yet something is amiss. By using sheen metallic black paint to disguise the underlying chicken wire, duct tape, and papier-mâché, the sensation extenuates not just a connection to nature, but the negative effect humans impact upon the environment. Tearing is not only an aspect of the production of this sculpture, but a further representation of how human actions and ideologies consistently segregate from nature, often in ways that are harmful to both, resulting in destruction. It is not difficult to imaging the shiny black paint as an ominous reminder of the many disastrous oil spills that have polluted the earths oceans due to the unharmonious human activity, regardless of interdependency. If the continuity of human life is to occur on this planet, the ‘tearing’ of humanity from nature must end; Humankind, much like the pair of waves, must fight to reconnect; As a physical metaphor, the waves, torn themselves as well as from each other, seem to contort in a grand effort to connect and balance. The pair wrap themselves around one other, appearing torn from one another while making an ample attempt to reconnect. Additional tears cascade away from the piece, while an extreme tilt, meticulous balance, and surrounding flakes of paint create a feeling of movement and decomposition. In all, the work begs to be considered for more than its abstractions, questioning human relationships with the ocean, as well as the environment at large.