"We live in a plugged-in world. Almost everything we use requires charging or constant power, and this has become an inseparable part of our daily lives. It’s hard to imagine how people once thrived without all these electric devices."

"Yet, sometimes when I grab a power cord, I’m struck by how wildly tangled it has become with other cords. Untangling them can be a time-consuming process, and in a way, this physical entanglement mirrors our broader relationship with technology. We’re so reliant on these devices that detaching from them feels almost impossible. Can being too connected distract us from connecting with nature, or with the people around us in a meaningful, face-to-face way?"

"My sculpture, Tangle, explores this idea by creating an artificial version of nature. The tangled cords will form the shape of a tree—a crude replacement for the beauty and life of a real, growing tree. The piece features a large electrical plug, its wires extending vertically like a tree trunk. A few feet above the ground, the wires gather into a loose spherical tangle, resembling a simplified tree canopy. This form evokes both the natural and the man-made, offering a poignant contrast between the two."

By presenting the power cord and outlet, Kuehl aims "to magnify the role these objects play in our modern existence." "The tangled cord—something so familiar to many—may evoke a sense of being ensnared by our dependence on technology, prompting viewers to reflect on the balance between connection to the digital world and to the natural one."

About the artist:
Dan Kuehl is a Roanoke art teacher at Breckinridge Middle School. He was the 2013 Roanoke City Teacher of the Year. He created an outdoor sculpture for the Williamson Rd. Library with his students. Outside of the classroom he enjoys creating paintings and sculptures! Visit Kuehl's website at ​dekayart.com

Sourced from:
The artist's statement.