Artist statement
In the last few months, I have been working on watercolor series entitled “THE OTHER IS US!"
In this series I am searching for my own identity through a homeless man’s image named Gunny. I use his (Gunny’s) image as a vehicle for my own feelings of dislocation, loneliness and fear. I, too, am experiencing these deep, disturbing emotions due to major life changes.
I met Gunny on my walks in the neighborhood, and as I got to know him better his story resonated strongly with me. His presence resembles my state of mind even though our lives appear completely different.
It felt somehow safer to use Gunny’s image to reveal my emotions, as I was not ready to expose myself. He is the embodiment of exposure leading his precarious life on the streets and talking to me freely about his despair. In many ways he is fearless while I am fearful.
At the core of my need to paint is a desire to express emotions. I use dripping paint… creating the “dirty” colors ... in an effort to capture his sadness and loneliness. At the same time capturing my own pain as well as the current overall malaise we humans are feeling universally.
- Collections: Homeless series, Homelessness