I am an artist that uses paper mache and painting to create performative and interactive works of art. I am fascinated with making masks and puppets that ask for active interaction from their audience. My works often involve the human body and face as subject, but because of craft style rendering of paper mache and the brightly colored paints they have a childlike or uncanny appearance.
I want my community’s children to thrive in whatever path they choose, and I think an early education in art is essential to their creativity and mental well-being. Art can help us think about the world differently and safely express our emotions. These skills are important in every life and these skills start at a young age.
In my personal practice there is often a playfulness and child-like element in my work. For one there’s my material, paper mache. A cost effective and recycled material that anybody could use, I employ it to create masks. I am fascinated by the idea and uses of masks. Using masks you can create your own identity, whether it be totally separate from your own or not. I am also interested in the mask as a performance.
Masks can free people to be able to express themselves more easily to their audience.