Sustained Investigation

Artist Statement: Expression of Dance

What is the experiential link between movement & flow? How would one portray vibrant motion through dance? How can viewers experience flow within each piece while undergoing visual tension of not knowing what could happen next? The investigation explores flow, movement, & visual dignity surrounding ballerinas. Having a dance background gave me motivation to replicate the ‘wow’ moment within a performance. Taking initial inspiration from artists like Degas, Duchamp, & Kentridge, the work has a universal-quality to it. Work began to juxtapose portraying reality & the visceral expression of dancers. Compositional use of perspective evolved showing elegance of empty space & depiction of motion. The work appears on a timeless plane due to negative space outside of supporting factors of opacity and linework. Figure-ground relations developed around the dancer by layering pre-existing drawings & creating an opus of depth & movement. Integrations revising traditional & digital processes intensified abstract flow making portions enigmatic. Conveying fundamental parts of a dancer while obscuring the model’s identity makes the figure an allegory for dance itself.