The focus that fuelled this entire body of work began in the summer of 2021, when I became fascinated with the modern resurgence of tribal designs in the tattoo industry. After likening the designs to knives and blades, I was led to explore the field of weaponry and its many intricate forms. Feeling restricted by the 2D nature of painting, I embarked on a series of steel 'blade' sculptures that visually refer to objects that are societally perceived as ‘beautiful’ or ‘delicate,’ like the chandelier or mobile.
The work intends to confront its audience with the notion that horror can be found in beauty and equally, that beauty can be found in horror. It aims to raise questions around human perception and ethics, by challenging the societal readings of objects by presenting them in a new, horror filled light. In this deeply self-aware culture we live in, I offer the viewer an opportunity to take playful comfort in the nature of the work, and to hopefully expand my research to the broader context by encouraging viewers to question their own definitions of horror and beauty.
