Gallery Artist
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"Redrawn and Quartered"
My latest body of work, entitled "Redrawn and Quartered", consists of large cut paper collages drawn with thick, dark pencil lines. They are layered with other sheets of cut paper and reflective mylar that toy with space and illusion. The drawings are made by tracing lines and shapes from sources including coloring books, cartoon characters and adult comic books. The images are weaved into a line-work of figures and abstraction.
Someone recently asked me, "What's with all the Disney references?" That's true; there are these classic elements in my work, but they are not the sole source. The line work in Disney books and animations are as recognizable as the Nike Swoosh, an icon of popular culture. One of my intentions is to acknowledge my sources while creating a new twist to the story line. The subject matter in these accounts is often adult themed, dealing with death of family members, suffering, grief and betrayal. Instead of juxtaposing the violent overtones of these tales with the lines I have traced, I am more interested in adding erotic and sexual innuendo to the narrative. After all, don't you think that those little dwarves didn't want to get into Snow White's dress? (see Upskirt #1).
The drawn lines refer to innocence and truth, and the loss of them. They also act as gestures that suggest a certain amount of impropriety. The title "Redrawn and Quartered" acts as a hint that these pieces are not as cute and sweet as a mermaid or a little princess. They too have a dark side and fantasies.