I have always been drawn to the spectacle of the ordinary. In this work, lost and discarded fragments have been gathered together and re-presented in a way that can create new stories and meaning. Through drawing, painting, video and assemblage, it acts as a kind of inventory of things which may in a thousand years, help future generations to piece together a picture of the past. All objects have a history, but we often depend on the authority of the museum to tell us what is culturally important or valuable. This work attempts to draw the attention in a contemplative manner and uncover the hidden history and beauty of ordinary objects.
'Beautiful Junk' is a project based on how language and context can change the reading of objects. In this case, I have used objects found on the city streets to create art objects such as paintings, rubbings, video, assemblages and spoken word pieces. The aim of this project is to draw attention to the wonder of every day, discarded objects. I believe the objects already contain all the ingenuity and wonder of human history by their simple existence, yet go unnoticed. It is through the creation and presentation of historically valid visual devices i.e. oil painting that I attempt to address issues of value, authority and perception.