Artist Statement
My artwork has no particular statement to make.
I am only interested in putting down the creative energy I feel. That creative energy is propelled by the effects of the various inspirations and influences that I am exposed to.
The most powerful inspiration, for me, is nothingness. This concept , for me, has limitless energy and depth. For explanation’s sake, the nothingness that I refer to is Samadhi. Samadhi is the Buddhist non-dualistic state of consciousness. I am not enlightened and don’t claim to understand or experience Samadhi, but just imagining this concept is a powerful enough form of inspiration.
I use ballpoints, not only for the precision & distinct contrast it’s capable of, but as you can’t make a mistake - it forces a certain focus of mind that blocks everything else out, which could be a form of meditation.
There are no intentional references to politics or current affairs in my artwork. My artwork is less concerned with transient political issues, more with wider sociological patterns. Our reality in the present compared to where I want us to be in the future. For humans to survive on this planet in-definitely we must evolve into more spiritually centred beings who happen to be equipped with highly efficient technology with a firm grasp on advanced science.
As time goes on, in our increasingly inter-connected world, the merging of cultural behaviours and traditions is and will become more of an unavoidable part of life. National identities are becoming more blurred due to this, which is a natural part of the process. We must adapt and become more tolerant. Social diversity is a positive landmark on the road to a healthy & prosperous world for humans in the future.
My art is just a documentation of what I wish to put onto paper. That may be a female model, a meditating monk, or a cityscape. It may be all these things in one drawing. Modern life is increasingly mixing things together, you can see this in the merging of cultural traditions and practices in small urban areas, cross-genre music, wi-fi in the houses of parliament, Starbucks cafe in Tianamen Square, Buddhist monks with iPhones, etc. Is there a limit on how far the synthesizing of differing human beliefs, behaviours, and actions can go?
Differing qualities don’t have to clash, they can often be more effective together, working in a coherent manner. Joining parts from differing things to combine their strengths is a useful and practical benefit of living within diversity. In my work I often feature seemingly contradictory elements within the same drawing. Each one’s reference serves as a counterpoint to another’s. By mixing imagery and connotations together, one can create a new identity, unique to the artwork.
