Drawings
The idea of control is a peculiar thing. As humans we try to control every aspect of our lives and of the lives of those around us, including the most uncontrollable things of all; love, time and fate. As artists we have the ability to decide how much control we wish to exert over our mediums, our tools, and our subjects. As humans, we tend to try to control how people perceive how happy our lives are or how financially secure we are. But, the reality is, we have very little, if any, control over the forces that lay their hands upon us. This unsettling juxtaposition of reality versus our desire for control is the concept behind this work of art. This internal battle of taking control over our lives versus the lawlessness of the universe is what I examined here.
Everything from my choice of paper, which does not allow for a smoothing of the graphite, to the ink technique that removes much of the artist's control, all fall into this juxtaposition of control. Instead of blending pencil in the usual way, the graphite must be blended using force and an eraser. The paper also does not soak in any of the ink and water. The dark and irregular splotches of ink were applied with water first and then ink was dropped into the water, allowing it to take on a life of its own and dry as it will. By asserting control over the beginning of the work but then allowing the art to finish on its own accord, the art itself becomes a representation of the juxtaposition of control.
