Where we used to live, 2022

Artist Statement:
 

Where we used to live is a series of three houses made out of white tissue paper. Each house is representative of the same home, yet is in three different stages. From left to right, the first house is completely intact. The second house begins to show signs of erosion, as there are burn marks that leave gaps in the foundation, exterior and roof. The last house sits as a pile of ashes and paper debris. This piece was created as a way to speak to the metaphor of the lives we build around certain relationships. Much like the blank quality of the piece itself, this metaphor is very open-ended to allow for the viewer to find their own relationship with the work. There exists a juxtaposition between the sturdy association of a house and the fragility of this work’s material quality. The delicacy of the material is also used to communicate its fleeting, easily destroyed quality. Furthermore, fire was specifically used to destroy the house because of its instantaneous and complete irreversibility. This work begins to pose questions about the symbolic homes we try to build up in our lives, and whether these homes were ever truly built to last.