Swimming in the Ocean of Consciousness
This series reflects my interest in Buddhist thought and the concept of nonduality - the belief that there is only one reality that is the summation of all experience. The idea that there is no separation between subject and object; inner self and outer experience; self and other, guides this project. I use the digital darkroom as a place of solace and exploration, creating unique worlds born out of mediation and time.
This work is in response to the daily bombardment of stories about conflict and anger towards “otherness.” I’m disturbed by the disintegration of public discourse that has devolved into shouting tropes at one another and refusing to entertain differing points of view while using violence to subjugate and silence others. The cacophony of misinformation drives me into further retreat. And it’s in this retreat that the external chatter recedes, and I feel a sense of calm. These visual manifestations come from an intuitive space, allowing me to connect to a deeper flow.
Touching into these moments provides a respite and allows me to re-engage in the world with all its seemingly unresolvable conundrums. I make art as much for myself as for others; the process of making art is an end in and of itself. We are drops in the ocean, interconnected manifestations of spirit, Swimming in the Ocean of Consciousness.