Artist Statement
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Artist Statement
My work is dedicated toward applying the unique mechanical design perspective to traditional art silhouettes. Coming from a mechanical engineering background I have a fascination with both mechanics and design that I use to explore the realm of immaterial human concepts such as love, war, greed, and religion and in true engineering fashion, bring these things into the material plane. I strive to create prototypes that are interpretations of what it is to be human using my skills in various fabrication methods. I want to show the world a perspective seldom seen in the art world as I am someone coming into this world of color and abstraction from one that is structured and calculated as any engineering stereotype would point out.
My use of materials diverges based off of the application and need. I have a large focus on a material being part of the expression of the design and avoid fine materials in choice of cheaper construction grade materials to bring a focus back into the manufacture. Many materials I choose to use have the manufacturers marks Printed on them and I choose to keep this characteristic instead of refine it away. These markings are the character of the material in my eyes as grain is to wood.
I draw influence both in the mechanical aspects and the existential aspects from various sources. I am mechanically inspired by works of Theo Jansen and Virgil Abloh, both successful artists with a background in science. I find world events based around political and cultural strife to be fascinating and helpful in my internal dig into what is it to be human. I proudly exclaim that it is my grandmother Tommie Williams, a watercolor artist from Mississippi who made me into the man who now wishes to walk both the art and science worlds.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
John Roth
Presentation Type
Artwork
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Fine Arts
Session Title
Art Exhibit
Location
Learning Commons @ Perry Library, Art Gallery
Start Date
February 2020
End Date
February 2020
Artist Statement
Learning Commons @ Perry Library, Art Gallery
Artist Statement
My work is dedicated toward applying the unique mechanical design perspective to traditional art silhouettes. Coming from a mechanical engineering background I have a fascination with both mechanics and design that I use to explore the realm of immaterial human concepts such as love, war, greed, and religion and in true engineering fashion, bring these things into the material plane. I strive to create prototypes that are interpretations of what it is to be human using my skills in various fabrication methods. I want to show the world a perspective seldom seen in the art world as I am someone coming into this world of color and abstraction from one that is structured and calculated as any engineering stereotype would point out.
My use of materials diverges based off of the application and need. I have a large focus on a material being part of the expression of the design and avoid fine materials in choice of cheaper construction grade materials to bring a focus back into the manufacture. Many materials I choose to use have the manufacturers marks Printed on them and I choose to keep this characteristic instead of refine it away. These markings are the character of the material in my eyes as grain is to wood.
I draw influence both in the mechanical aspects and the existential aspects from various sources. I am mechanically inspired by works of Theo Jansen and Virgil Abloh, both successful artists with a background in science. I find world events based around political and cultural strife to be fascinating and helpful in my internal dig into what is it to be human. I proudly exclaim that it is my grandmother Tommie Williams, a watercolor artist from Mississippi who made me into the man who now wishes to walk both the art and science worlds.