Artist Statement

Using film, sculpture, and physical action, I am investigating gender as a complex concept, questioning our understanding of stereotypes in our current society and how they impact our daily lives. The hammer and the nail are conventionally seen as masculine objects engendering the perception of men as the builders. Objects, that are capable of both design and destruction. I refer to them within my imagery to question cultural stereotypes. During my process, I subvert the hammer and the nail to produce a new object, one that is delicate and fragile. By exploiting materials such as metal, wood and plaster, I create minimalist structures that comment on the complex notion of gender. Inspired by the deceptively feminine sport of cheerleading, the installations embody the physical challenges of the sport such as weight and mass, balance and tension, resilience and durability. Through the process of my practice, I hope to evolve new perceptions of what defines gender, to manufacture a contemporary understanding of what gender could represent.