Collections > Roots and Remembrance

In this work, I consider what makes a thing valuable - and whether or not that value supersedes circumstances. Do we still assign value to a thing when it is broken, buried or lost? How does the idea of ‘treasure’ translate to our experience as humans - specifically how we treat one another? Through my drawings, I distill elements I’ve selected from the natural world; plants, mountains and earth, to comment on the emotional stunting and psychological entrapment that is a result of abuse, invalidation and isolation. To these I have added architectural imagery; houses, stairs and flooring. They are placed far away from the viewer in a ruined, inaccessible state. These pieces are larger than most people, compelling the viewer to confront and address the darkness of the textures and images. More broadly, these drawings convey landscape as living, breathing, evolving, shifting - and worthy of notice for itself. There are elements of botany mingled with anatomy, birth, death, decay - and the tension that accompanies the discovery that something horrible or tragic can also be visually compelling and poignant.

Charcoal and pastel drawing on paper
Charcoal and Pastel on Paper
42 x 108
2016
Charcoal drawing on paper
Charcoal on Paper
42 x 108
2016
Oversize charcoal, ink and pastel drawing on paper
Charcoal, Ink and Pastel on Paper
42 x 108
2016
Out of Hand
Charcoal on Paper
42 x 102
2017
Right of Egress
Charcoal on Paper
42 x 102
2017
Outlier
Charcoal on Paper
42 x 96
2016
Charcoal drawing on embossed paper
Charcoal on Embossed Paper
44 x 30
2016
House Broken
Charcoal on Paper
2017
Dwelling Place
Charcoal, Gesso and Ink on Paper
75 x 70
2016
Ingrained
Charcoal on Paper
42 x 36
2016
Evidence and Escape
Mixed Media on Paper
75 x 50
2016
Leaving
Charcoal, Gesso and Ink on Paper
36 x 58
2016
Once Removed
Charcoal on Paper
44 x 30
2016