(An invitation to the monsters under the bed.)

2024

42” x 35” x 70”

What happens when we make bedfellows with the darkest parts of us? And what if we like it?

“As above, so below” is an exploration of the story behind the parts of us we never reveal to the world. The parts that may have joined us early in life, living as secrets in the dark or unprocessed memories deep in the subconscious. These experiences have influence on who we are, how we exist in the world, and how we discover ourselves and our bodies. We grapple with these parts, forcing them back down or we live ignorant of their existence even if our bodies tell us a different tale. Rarely do we lie still and let them exist beside us.

I am influenced by the metamorphosis we undergo as we transition through life, moving from seeing the world through a child’s eyes to developing adult perspectives. “As above, so below” enabled me to revisit a childlike approach to exploring material and connect with the raw emotions in my work. I abandoned any preconceived ideas for what I would create. Allowing myself this freedom provided me with the opportunity to listen to what the work naturally wanted to become. Through this process, I observed my shame, sexuality, fear, and ultimately gave life to a story that deeply wanted to be told.