Smudge (2025)

My work explores the power of single words as symbols of human connection and emotion, creating a visual dialogue between language and the intangible experiences they represent. Through a series of scanned prints, I focus on words such as "love," "hope," and "trust,"—each carrying deep emotional significance (or the potential emptiness—void of meaning). These words, though seemingly simple, serve as anchors in our collective consciousness, embodying both personal and universal meaning.

The ink stains, blotches, and smears across my compositions act as deliberate visual metaphors for the complexity and imperfection of human experience. Just as emotions cannot be neatly defined or contained, the unpredictable spread of ink mirrors the raw, unfiltered nature of what it means to truly feel. The marks that disrupt these words reflect how our emotions—like ink on paper—are fluid, sometimes smudged by external forces but never erased. In this, I seek to elevate language beyond its literal meaning, urging viewers to engage with and reflect upon the depth of feeling behind the words rather than their surface definition.

This series also responds to the collective anxiety and uncertainty of our times, particularly in the face of political turmoil and the relentless cycle of distressing news. The bold yet disrupted words reflect the tension between hope and despair, resilience and exhaustion. As we navigate a world often dominated by fear and frustration, these prints serve as a quiet rebellion against the negativity that permeates daily life. The distortions and smears become a testament to the difficulty of holding onto optimism when doubt and division feel overpowering. The digital—manipulated—surrogates further interrogate the nature of self and reality and the spaces we create between each other.

By confronting these emotions directly and embedding them within words of connection and empathy, I aim to inspire reflection and invite viewers to find meaning within the chaos. The unpredictability of ink—its ability to spread, blend, and transform—becomes a metaphor for resilience, for the ways in which love, trust, and care persist even in turbulent times. Through these works, I encourage an embrace of imperfection, a recognition of shared vulnerability, and a renewed engagement with the world beyond the endless scroll of uncertainty.