Cycles of Rebirth
solo exhibition
This space will discuss the overlapping cycles we go through in life. Healing from one experience until another arises, repeating the never-ending cycle of growth.
Each piece exposes a different stage of my healing process and the array of emotions I felt. Leaving me in a better position than I previously was in.
As I’ve explored my own emotions, I invite you to reflect on your own. Perhaps, in these shared experiences, you’ll find something that resonates with your personal journey.
Look For Their Warning, 2022
For this piece, I landed on the idea of creating a yellow rose holding a grotesque face on the other side of its beautiful flowering. Yellow roses are a symbol of betrayal, so having the rose carrying a grotesque face on the other side symbolizes the hidden intentions someone had toward you. Having someone close to your heart hurt you without a warning, revealing a side of them you didn’t know existed. Having you retracing your last encounter with them and the whole relationship trying to seek out moments where they gave you signs towards the future. When facing towards the front of the flowering rose, you can see a red petal in the back, the tongue red, symbolizing the lies that lead to the betrayal.
This is not happening, 2022
The initial reaction to trauma can cause symptoms that include feelings of dissociation where a person may feel detached from their body or surroundings, and a loss of control over the situation. The work reflects the struggle to understand and process traumatic events, while also giving a glimpse into the resilience and perseverance of the human spirit. The painting portrays the idea of losing sight of oneself and feeling lost as if the light within has dimmed. It captures the struggle of not knowing how to move forward, the confusion, and the difficulty in conceptualizing what to do with oneself. It is a representation of feeling uncertain and overwhelmed and a visual representation of the internal turmoil that can come with it.
Speaks to a difficult period that brings about a sense of emptiness and hopelessness. It's about feeling disconnected and lost in your own body. Everything that once motivated and propelled one forward comes crashing down. The frayed and ripped texture in the painting adds to the immense feeling of disfigurement and destruction. It is literally torn apart, both internally and externally, revealing the pain and hurt one has been carrying. Breaking the canvas symbolizes the shattered state that depression had left me in.
Torn, 2023
Out of Control- No Longer Under Management- 2020
These two paintings depict the theme of losing one's inhibitions and values. They show how succumbing to recklessness and disregarding the consequences of one's actions, can lead to a loss of control and a disregard for oneself and others. The use of vibrant colors in the paintings symbolizes the overwhelming flood of emotions that can consume one in this state. The paintings also reflect on the realization of hitting a low point and the difficulty of rebuilding oneself and regaining a sense of identity after being consumed by numbness.
Exhale, 2022
This piece, entitled Exhale, consists of two wooden square boards, each covered in their entirety with pieces of broken glass and ceramic. Through the shattered glass I was able to illustrate a heart breaking open, releasing every negative attachment that it's been holding onto. Written beneath the broken pieces are the negative thoughts that were pressing on my heart. The heart, now broken, releases itself and myself from the burdens I was carrying. Once I had compiled all my thoughts into the piece, I came back to it, writing responses to the fears, and doubts I had written, allowing myself to both recognize the emotions and find solace in my responses. After I pieced together the boards, a representation of the actions I took to heal myself.
Resuscitate, 2021
I reached a point where I could no longer allow my current circumstances to drain my energy and light. I was deeply hurt and wounded, both inside and out. My heart was bleeding and pleading for something to change. I had been denying myself and neglecting my needs. After encountering a string of difficult situations that were challenging for me, I came to the realization that the security and protection I’ve been yearning for was always inside of me. Art has given me the liberty and the means to express myself which in turn, has kept my ambition for self-improvement alive.
Birth of Passion, 2022
This series began as my final for my painting class. Given the freedom to create what I wanted, I let the fun lead me there. This piece was created in three different steps, I first spray-painted some forms and after painted around it with acrylics. After filling the rest of the white space, I went in with my paint markers and added line work on top of the other layers of paint. After creating this piece, I later created two more pieces using the three types of paint. Afterward, I laid them on the floor together and realized they shared the same embryo forms. Exploring why that form was so recurring, I concluded it was a representation of myself surrounded by paint. Using art as a form of protection and expression.
Bloom
2022
For this painting, I allowed my sense of play to guide me as I created this painting. I experimented with mixing three different types of paint, beginning by using paint markers, then applying the background with acrylic, and finally adding a spray-painted sun. As I worked, I realized that the sun in the corner reminded me of the way I used to draw the sun as a child. I embraced every creative idea that came to mind and expressed it on the canvas by layering different colors and textures of paint.
