ARTIST STATEMENT
Intro: persona explores through a contemporary and highly personal context, the personal journeys of growing up out of youth. Through a personal context, the growing and weathering the flowers employ the progressive journey life during youth takes a person on, and metaphorically represents the growing up and out of this youth. Carnations in itself are a very symbolic flower, with the multiple colours of carnations on the canvas each in itself represent a period in which I have experienced during my own personal journey of growing such as, disappointment, rejection, and deep sorrow. The flowers portray the wavering journey that has created my persona.
ARTWORK PROCESS
To create this work I explore the topics of journeys, growth cycles and how the ugly can be beautiful. I began by capturing a photo of myself in my senior jersey. I painted this onto the canvas using oil paint, emphasising realistic qualities to reference the personal aspects of my life, especially my journey through high school. I then wove a wire frame of the head/neck and sewed this to the canvas. This space would house real flowers, inserted in a 'bouquet' to represent my blooming as I near graduation and a new chapter of my life.
