ARTIST STATEMENT
Tightrope, presents the journey from addiction to sobriety. Allegorically, it tells a visual story of the both the physical and psychological struggles and challenges faced during this journey from addiction to recovery. A figure is precariously balancing on a thin line, barely hanging above her addiction which is represented by the field of embroidered opium poppy flowers. Symbolically, the Phoenix is guiding her to rise above her addiction to reach sobriety. Sobriety is portrayed as a state of happiness and joy through the textural and bright rainbow ‘cloud’ of positive colours.
ARTWORK PROCESS
The inspiration for ‘Tightrope’ comes from alternating my previous focus of drug addiction and was
further developed into the concept of showing the recovery process and journey to sobriety. The
artwork was created using a wide variety of mixed media including acrylic paint for the main
sections, sewing thread for the embroidered flower field and a range of rainbow found objects to
create the abstract cloud of happiness/sobriety. The cloud consists of various found objects
including ribbons, beads, acrylic charms, gems, pipe cleaners and feathers.
