Artist Statement

Isolation is a versatile condition; it can be thrust upon us, or projected onto others. It can even be self-inflicted. As an investigation of this condition, I have isolated the figures in my paintings inharmoniously within the confines of their frame. The ambiguously empty and fragmented interiors confound our confidence in perspective, and relate the paintings in a disquieting and unlikely space. In other words, the subjects and the viewer have become prisoners of the format. The stifling claustrophobia of their internment seems to elicit responses ranging from indignation to outright hostility. These emotions suggest that although isolation is easily defined as a mere separation of bodies, it also deals with the idea of accountability. The notion of accountability has devolved from taking responsibility for one's own actions to blaming, or being blamed, for a wrongdoing. When something goes wrong, no matter how significant or trivial, it always seems to be someone else's fault. We are surrounded by these captives, observing them from above and below, caught in the soundless crossfire. The paintings explore how a pointed finger, grimace, or folded arms can convey disappointment just as easily as denial. The duality of these figurative elements shows how quickly our social conditions change depending on our point of view. We are forced into the position of the oppressor and the oppressed, a difficult position to occupy simultaneously. A silent dispute now exists between paintings, and between the paintings and the viewer, bringing the simmering mood of ire and confusion to a boil.