Artist Statement

The emphasis of my work takes the form of fractured narratives inspired by personal events and emotions, mined largely from memory, truth and fiction merged as one. Tangled threads of autobiography, and myth run through it, dotted with influences of Oceanic and Chinese culture, images of the sea, familiar objects and family photos.

I use a wide variety of media including drawing, painting, printmaking & book arts, embroidery and sculpture. Often the subject matter dictates how, and with what, a piece of work should be made and I frequently repeat works or images in a variety of formats - nothing’s set in stone.

Themes of time, vulnerability (mortality), grief and salvation are approached in fiddly, detailed, repetitive processes; with the odd dose of wry humour applied, to even the most serious of subjects. Most works are time consuming - in spite of my personal sense of urgency - and employ fragile, delicate and unstable materials, further complicating processes. The ownership of making is very important to me and this can become really intense and reclusive.

“So when she comes to you, don’t ask her where she’s from, or what’s troubling her. Ask her where she’s lived. Ask her what she’s left behind. Open doors. And just listen. Give her the time and space and permission she needs to remember and mourn. She has a story – many stories. And she needs and deserves to be heard, and to be healed, and to be whole.” - Nina Sichel, (author and adult Third Culture Kid)