Colin Smith: capstone

Abstract

The artist's statement: My works are details. They are the objects that bring a story to life, and story is something I engage in depth. My work is sited in a land of fiction, and I want my viewer to explore that fiction; to allow themselves to be immersed and excited about a world, and a story within that world. Through fiction, viewers will feel a connection and want to know more about each object that is before them: what is it, what is it used for, who uses it? I want them to ask questions. For the viewer to be curious. I am also interested in the concept of culture itself. What is needed to create a culture and how can I clearly present that? This body of work serves to help define a fictional society through the lens of the artifact. I provide the viewer with a glimpse into the world that these objects came from. These cultural artifacts are paired with written context in order to better explain each piece as well as the culture I have created for them. In this way, I provide the viewer with a glimpse into the world that these objects inhabit. Through these objects the story becomes more inviting and the viewer is more likely to investigate it further. Writing and making are two processes that I use to express my imagination and creativity. Separately, each can result in beautiful work, but when they are combined they create something more. I am able to breathe life into my pieces by providing them with a world to live in through writing. My stories, too, are made tangible by being paired with a physical object. For me, writing and making enhance one another and allow me to present my work in a complete form.