I am fascinated by natural phenomena. During walks through the cities I have inhabited, I encounter an intriguing colony of parasitic mushrooms commingling with the knotted bark of a tree, an infestation of moss oozing from sidewalk cracks, or a series of black seed pods piled amongst blades of grass. I document my visual discoveries with photos. Such discoveries prompt further research of rare species. I combine artificial reinterpretations of organic elements with amplified colors and invented pattern. I create repetitious entities that mingle in colonies. I aim to reconstruct a feeling of visual assault I encounter when nature presents its various spectacles.
The idea of play is crucial in my work. I constantly utilize a massive three-year-old pile of papers with various textures, painterly marks and shapes I have created. I cut and arrange them to create specific moments. The painted marks become transportable strokes. Rejected marks of cut paper that resemble an organic species will be saved until another opportunity to use them arises. The technique of collage has offered unabashed experimentation.
From the arrangement of smaller piles of cutout forms, I begin to juxtapose disparate elements. It becomes most interesting when I have created a dialogue of interactions between the parts of the collage. They are recognizable as separate elements, but also serve a larger ambiance.
I question the amount of information necessary to create a captivating visual experience. I set limitations to the amount of invented organisms to include. I am drawn to create vaguely recognizable elements, which also function as the shapes of an abstraction. I am interested in presenting harmonious, yet somewhat foreign bodies of information.