Human Nature
A separation exists between the surface of things and what lies within. Beneath our layers of carefully arranged coverings—clothing, hair, and —move our internal mechanisms. Organs and processes we cannot consciously control reveal our relationship to the natural world, and our shared tendency toward deterioration. They remind us of a fundamental truth—our lack of control over the cycles of growth and decline that shape our existence.
The fabric sculptures and collage works in Human Nature (2010–12) peel back these coverings to expose the constant state of flux in which we exist. Created through a process of extracting and integrating images, fabric, and found materials, the works reference the forms of the body, as well as elements of plant life and landscape. They reveal similarities between human anatomy and the natural world—between internal and external environments. These are interior and exterior landscapes, reimagined through a sense of play and hope, offering a way to confront—and find comfort in—what we so often try to avoid.