Out of My Mind

                     I want my audience to feel compelled to see past the surface of the work and experience it beyond just skill, medium, or genres. My main goal is changing the viewer’s idea on the perception of everyday reality. In order to achieve this I like to incorporate images that connect to my childhood as a main influence while playfully incorporating and morphing them into a completely different image. The idea of using personal experiences gives me the opportunity to make the piece more personal, not only for myself, but allows the viewer to develop a more intimate connection with my work. Even simply warping the image creates a broader interpretation without alienating the observer. By seamlessly mixing some comic relief within a larger and more engaging context, it grants me the freedom to talk about darker subjects regarding the mind. I do this as a way for the viewer to break out of the repetitive cycle that adulthood has placed us in, so that they can remember what it was like before we had responsibility or felt as though we have lost ourselves due to time passing.

                       I handle the content within my work in a variety of means, ranging from a direct and serious to fun and playful approach. My work typically contains vibrant hues, clear saturation and fine details with a few hidden aspects, either in technique or content. I begin my process by taking a personal experience based on my cultural background and childhood stories while finding a way to warp the memory. By warping the memory, I give myself permission to create unbound possibilities; having the freedom to think outside the box and create a whole new idea on how the world could be. I like the idea of seeing multiple possibilities, allowing the viewer to imagine their own stories about the work. I do this by combining familiar images that I use as a tool to help the viewer find any familiar experiences from their own lives. I take liberties with a trompe l’oeil style while combining other images that would not traditionally work together. I like to play around with the idea of taking ordinary scenes and adding a surreal element. I want the viewer to see the work through a childlike mindset and how different their surroundings would be if one thing were to change within their lives.