ARTIST STATEMENT Lynette Morris-Hale
RETRACING I am one of the millions of voices existing in my country. I am presenting to the viewer images and words that can start an inner dialogue. Between conscience, past history and current status. I don’t see it as my job as an artist to give answers. I am encouraging a one on one between the viewer and the work. The viewer , sees through the work, his/her history, biases, culture, experiences and as a result , no viewer will see the work in exactly the same way. The viewer has a right to analyse what thoughts and emotions the work evokes in him/her and I have the right to express what I feel about US all. Its my history. I might oppose some of it ,love some of it but I must deal with it.. I have used the female form as the narrative for my visual thoughts. The female in our society is often the one that feels the divisions, heartaches and injustices the most. Women are left to carry the burden of social failures, man based violence and to carry the burden of tending to others. To care for children and the elderly, to cook , clean, fetch water and other critical tasks in order for communities to function effectively- as well as carrying the burden of those who are unemployed. They have always done this for a long, long time. The work represents my history, my culture, my thoughts and as such there are many voices existing simultaneously in this group of little hanging sculptures. Nostalgia, heartache, frustration and the longing for things to come right. |