ARTIST STATEMENT
The fragmented portrait of my uncle, a dementia sufferer, foregrounding his favourite surfing beach, Coolum, highlights the impermanence of memories. The levels created by the stacked blocks embody the term 'punctum', which denotes the details in an image that trigger a memory. The resultant shadows and distortion from the raised fragments cause the original image to be intangible. The image becomes clearer when approached front on, however as viewers continue walking, the image disappears behind the shadows, emulating a forgotten memory and reflecting my uncle's struggle to grasp fragments of his identity as his condition worsens.
ARTWORK PROCESS
My uncle was photographed closeup to capture his face in detail. His confusion as we stood before his favourite beach aligns with the disconnect between the painted portrait and the image accessible in the final artwork. Acrylic paint in a cool, tonal palette was applied to realistically capture my uncle to express his internal struggle. 143 hand-cut pine blocks (4.2 x4.2cm) were stacked to create varying levels and then secured onto a sheet of plywood using wood glue. The painting was cut into a grid then glued onto its corresponding wooden square.
