ARTIST STATEMENT
One Stumble and a Change consists of manipulated objects associated with a daily routine reimagined to represent a loss of motivation in a contemporary COVID world. The artwork is an investigation into the aftermath of online learning by illustrating the emotional responses to school ritual. The frustration and hopelessness posed by this experience are exhibited by the disturbing imagery that strives to alarm the viewer. Symbols with damaging connotations are used to distort reality and make the viewer feel uncomfortable, representing self-care as tedious. The dramatic black-and-white photographs command attention and challenge the viewers' perception of senior education.
ARTWORK PROCESS
The photographs were taken using Dynamic Monochrome. Their dramatic nature emphasises reality, portraying the objects as truly frightening. Each object is 'treated' to express self-care as an exhausting effort. Their essence is manipulated using an unsettling item to fabricate torture devices, representative of the mental conflict students experience. Strong lighting emphasises contrast between the object and background. The repetitive composition with the anomaly as the focal point symbolises the fatigue of routine. The imagery creates a sensory experience where the viewer feels discomfort, provoking dialogue regarding COVID schooling. Burnout is taken to the extreme, calling for change in student support.
