The logic of chance and serendipity are integral to almost all my work in that they are integral to the collage process, and I consider myself in essence, a collage artist. In bringing together a collage work, I seize upon accidents, and the resonances or dissonances that may arise between juxtaposing materials, which are themselves, oftentimes, found. The very nature of acquiring such materials is serendipitous. As I joke, the tidal shoreline is my favourite art store.
In collage, the found stuffs are re-contextualized from their previous spatial-temporal reality, set beside other re-contextualized elements, and something new results. Whether it is resonant is as much to do with serendipity as design. For this BAF work, almost everything I am using as source material for the wall’s construction is found or has had a previous application. (The exceptions being the non-reusables like glue, brad nails, propane etc.) Before starting I know that as i’ll be working with re-purposed building materials, there will be variation in size, physical condition, usability etc. Such unpredictable realities has a knock on effect. I need to remain flexible, adaptable. Be improvisational. Serendipitous.
An additional layer of serendipity arises during the charring process, where different densities or finishes of material respond differently to the flame.
All such unpredictabilities are welcome to me.
I think what attracts me to working with found materials and the collage methods is that I don’t much care to have “my hand” be front and centre of my creative process. i find myself falling in love with a piece of garbage as easily than a drawing from my own hand, for example. To me, the found stuff is equivalent to a created element. The advantage of the found/acquired element is that my ego isn’t in the way.