Why I do what I do
Creativity is my sanctuary, where I can find solace and freely express myself. Whether it's through drawing, painting, writing, or experimenting with new recipes, engaging in creative activities allows me to reconnect with my inner self and find joy in the present moment. Amidst the chaos of daily life, creativity provides a space for reflection, introspection, and problem-solving from diverse angles. Through creativity, I can rediscover my sense of self and regain focus, feeling liberated and empowered to explore new possibilities. The act of being creative not only brings me a sense of freedom but also enables me to embrace life's challenges with a fresh perspective.
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About my work
Maps have been instrumental in shaping our understanding of the world. More than a tool for navigation, it serves as a visual representation of human existence, connections, and disconnections. They showcase the intricate systems of human culture and interactions and highlight their design's aesthetic beauty and complexity. By depicting spaces, contours, colours, connecting lines, and grid systems, the artistic maps I create offer an alternative perspective on how humans navigate and document their physical and digital experiences. By exploring the relationships between different elements on these maps, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the significance of maps in our perception of the world.
Designed to initiate meaningful conversations, the artistic representations of maps I create set out to evoke emotions, memories, and reflections, prompting viewers to engage in dialogue and share their perspectives on the world's interconnectedness including the exploration of how people can occupy multiple social locations simultaneously, which can influence their experiences of inclusion and exclusion. Understanding this perspective can enhance efforts toward greater inclusivity and equity by recognizing the nuanced and intersectional nature of belonging. By using conversations (public-domain conversations, dialogues with others, literature, and my own words) as a medium, I can create works that are deeply personal, socially relevant, and hopefully dynamically engaging, offering viewers a unique lens into human interaction and communication.
The artistic maps I produce help me make sense of my thinking and how I find relationships and connections within my ideas. From a critical perspective, the maps I produce raise questions about being a partial outsider (born in the UK with Caribbean heritage) and my existence at the intersection of identity, race, gender, place, representation, inclusion, and exclusion. By creating maps in this way, I question my understanding of the world at large, at the same time facilitating conversations that include migration, immigration, colonization, and globalization. These discussions can lead to greater awareness and empathy, fostering a more inclusive and informed community. Each map is designed for people to experience different emotions. Included within the artwork are short essays of between 500 and 1000 words on a topic that is emotive to me and this is deconstructed and reconstructed within the art.