'Today And Tomorrow'

EXPERIMENTATION IN MARK MAKING & LINE DIPTYCH

DECEMBER 2021 — GREEN DYE, PINK DYE, WHITE COTTON SHEETS, THREAD, STUFFING, T-PINS

Artist Statement

I dyed two pillows, one green and one pink. I noticed the dye creating darker splotches in places, lighter splotches in others, and intersections between them. I see dispersed shapes and condensed shapes within the dye. This is the natural state of tie-dye of course. But I was curious about these values of color and shapes created by dye, how I might perceive them. After dying each pillow I took note of the differing values of color in places and equated deep colors to intense feelings and light colors to mild feelings.

On the left: stabbing and pinching are present at the sites of deep color. These pins are visible, some completely so. I associate the pins present with causing harm. This pillow represents a “day” where the strain of living feels too much, as if you’ve reached your breaking point. Could be today, could be tomorrow.

On the right: pins are present in the deepest color of the pillow, however, they are buried deep. We see little harm (at least on the surface) from the manner they are stuck. This pillow represents a “day” where the task of living feels doable, maybe you’re in a good mood, maybe you’re distracted. This experience could also be today, could be tomorrow.

I designed the T-pins in this way to portray uncertainties, fears, and anxieties about existence, death, and purpose. They illustrate how the effect is greater at moments, via the green pillow. And lesser at times, per the pink pillow. However these uncertainties never disappear. By uncertainties, I mean the natural human urge to ask what the purpose of our time here is. Major depressive disorder has eaten me up inside since I was 18. I feel It’s a burden to ask people to carry on existing, through very much thick, and thin with seemingly no real purpose or importance to the concept of life. This burden of existence is more pronounced at times, other times the feeling is tame, or perhaps just deeply buried in you, but never non-existent. These pillows represent the continual state of being. I’m unsure whether my day will unfold green or pink, however, they are always influx. A long period of time could look like either one, but the opposite pillow will always reappear.