Fragmented Memories

Where did you get the inspiration for your work Pinned for Display, above?

I wanted to represent myself through fragmentation of experience and memory and how those smaller pieces come together to make a complete story. I love to collect little things as small representations of me, like insect casings and other natural objects. When I began the project, I thought about scientific displays, like how we organize and display animal or insect artifacts.

What was your working process?

I did not have a set structure or process; it was a lot of trial and error. I started out with paper I made from field guides, pollen, and grass. Then I added materials and trinkets, layer on top of layer. There’s a finger puppet, magnified pieces of insects, little animal figurines, and cicada wings. It’s all stuff that was just in my room for a long time.

Did you think about how the viewer would interact with this artwork?

This piece is particularly powerful to see in person because it changes based on how you move around it. That’s because certain pieces are layered higher than others, so you can see the under-layers of the work—the understory of the art. The image is clear for viewers standing straight on, but it becomes abstracted when they move around to the side.

Do you have advice for other young artists like yourself?

Become comfortable with being bored. Immerse yourself in the world even when you think that there’s nothing more to see. There’s so much intricacy in everything around us, so have patience when looking for those details. That will make you a stronger artist, but it’ll also make you a stronger person.