Q&A
Specialism:
My process is often tied up in spiritual inquiry and what it means to be human. How do different cultures understand their identities as humans in the world, and how do we relate to different cultural identities? How does the human identity exist alongside the natural world, and how do humans exist alongside each other? My work is socially, politically, culturally and spiritually curious.
Influences:
I like to imbibe inspiration across all forms of media as I think it is all an important part of the storytelling of the human condition. In terms of direct visual influences, I am shaped by artists that express their experience of the world in a universal and honest way, and also artists who examine our relationship with nature and culture. Folk and traditional art always informs my work, but a few artists who have significantly shaped my work include: Louis Wain, for his unique and universally captivating depictions of cats; John Muafangejo, whose work encapsulates Namibia’s struggles against apartheid and colonialism, but also everyday life, identity and culture; and Lou Benesch, whose bold and mystical work expresses universal themes that are simultaneously connected with the personal.
MAKE space:
Being part of York has led to a shift within my life and identity, having lived around the world in a number of different countries for most of my formative years; having a space to be immersed in my work in the heart of the city I have chosen as my home is important to me, allowing me to feel grounded in my art and part of a thriving community.
What is art for?:
Art is a space I can always come back to within myself to reconnect with what it means to exist as a human. Art is storytelling, which to me is the foundation of who we are. Everybody instinctively knows what art is, and it is an integral part of how we navigate through life and death.
