Nizlyn

Our skin is a thin but formidable barrier.  My work approaches the skin as the carrier of memories, a protective wrapping, and the site of both pleasure and pain.  Pain can be a pervasive symptom of living, ranging from emotional to physical, internal to performative.  The unpredictable and controlling nature of illness can take hold of the body and make it radiate pain.  Illness is always present—lurking and uncontrollable.  I aim to bring light to unspoken pain and invisible, chronic conditions through my work.  

 

In my work, intimate moments are captured in rope.  Rope both serves as an artifact of experience in my papercut depictions as well as a tool used to activate and support my suspended colons.  The structure of woven wrappings encompasses the ceramic forms offering the organs a sense of swaddled security. 

 

Process an integral part of my artistic practice.  Paper is frail, suggesting a delicacy to the power dynamic despite the strength of the binds portrayed.  I appreciate paper's skin-like qualities; I cover it in flesh tones to bring the body back to my rope knots and papercuts.  Through my laborious practice, I am able to focus on dissecting a single knot into an army of papercut fragments, lovingly labeled and painted individually.  The process requires all of my attention, distracting me from my chronic pain.  I aim to delve further into the medical art community to not only bring attention to my condition, but to bring myself to a better place of understanding and acceptance. 

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