ARTISTS STATEMENT
My work is influenced by a variety of disciplines, particularly theatre and performance (as I come from a background in dance
&drama). Often there will be a theatrical or performative element to my work. This section of my website focuses on my sculpture, mixed media and painting work. Click here to view my performance art work.
&drama). Often there will be a theatrical or performative element to my work. This section of my website focuses on my sculpture, mixed media and painting work. Click here to view my performance art work.
Abstract Series, 2018
Between 2016 up until 2018, I began exploring the idea of the abstract form through the medium of painting. As my work has grown and developed I've become more fascinated by the colour black, notions of ritual, symbolism and repetition.
Darkie Dilemma Series, 2014This is really a play on the absurd nature of stereotypes - particularly stereotypes that are associated with names, skin colour and behaviour.
This work aims to challenge the nature of stereotypes and the way in which they have become common place within society. Who shapes and creates these perceptions? Who decides the ‘criteria’ that qualifies an individual’s personality, sense of dress, accent or even their name as acceptable? The starting point of this work are words that people have said to me or words that I have heard said to others. The work continues to grow and develop - I'm constantly adding new sayings to it. |
Hair Confessions, 2014
An interactive art installation that encouraged women (and men) to share the challenges/stories they face with their hair.
Read more about the project
Read more about the project
Who said that? 2011
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This work was first performed as my final practical exam for my Masters in Digital Arts (Interactive Media) at the University of the Witwatersrand in November 2011. This project was a culmination of all the practicals that we had been doing throughout the year - learning about physical computing, code, computer vision etc.
I created a wireless performance costume in the form of two jackets, which release sounds that are triggered by the performers wearing them. This costume explores the sounds an audience makes when they are bored or uncomfortable during a performance. For instance they laugh, cough, and clear their throats or whisper to each other. The tones and variations in these sounds can allude to different meanings; this work is a play on that. The performance costume is in the form of two jackets which have speakers embedded in them. The jackets make the sounds mentioned above. I collaborated with a sound engineer in order to create the various sounds. The two performers control the sounds that are made via push buttons and switches in the jackets. The switches are located in the collar, the sleeves and the front of the jackets, like buttons. This is enabled through the use a Lilypad Arduino, which is a wearable circuit, which is programmed via a computer. This allows the performers to be mobile in the space. |
Happily Ever After, 2010
These works were inspired by African-American fairytale books that were given to me by my aunt when I was younger. I was fascinated by the ‘black’ protagonists (who looked like me) in comparison to the lily-white characters in other books. A dinner table installation formed part of 'Happily Ever After' it is a dinner setting that references some of the characters in fairytales that were eaten or almost eaten.
These works were inspired by African-American fairytale books that were given to me by my aunt when I was younger. I was fascinated by the ‘black’ protagonists (who looked like me) in comparison to the lily-white characters in other books. A dinner table installation formed part of 'Happily Ever After' it is a dinner setting that references some of the characters in fairytales that were eaten or almost eaten.