DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/96SV-Y833
Defense Date
2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Interdisciplinary Studies
Department
Interdisciplinary Studies
First Advisor
Sara Clark
Abstract
My sculpture and prints are about dismemberment and the destruction caused by war. To address the high cost of war, I make works that present the threat of injury, amputation, and prosthetics. I use Classical Greek art history references to address contemporary political, military, and social issues. I include images such as Amazonian women, horses, and doves. These images are coupled with references to the damage caused by conflict. While my work concerns destruction, paradoxically, my process involves additive construction. I take a mixed media approach to both my sculptures and my prints, and use a wide range of materials and techniques. Hardware cloth, wire, and abaca pulp are staples of my sculpture. Craft foam, copy paper, and feathers are often used for my printing plates. I use mixed media because it symbolically parallels the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and the merging of human bodies with artificial limbs.
My work addresses war in general but some motifs point to specific, current conflicts. I hope that my pieces will remind the viewer of the terrible toll war takes, and make them question the meaning of winning a war.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
4-15-2015