Artist Statement

As an artist, I have always had a jack-of-all-trades mentality. I enjoy experimentation and learning new skills, and I never want to limit myself to a single approach. This is why animation is my field of choice; it is one of the most versatile art forms in the modern world. An animated film can span any genre, from grounded documentaries to surreal fantasy worlds, and combine any number of art styles and techniques. Animation is the perfect medium in which I can challenge myself and discover new methods of connecting with my audience.

One of the driving forces behind my art is the belief that medium should accentuate the themes of the work. This is why I find animating with mixed media captivating; medium serves as an extra layer of visual metaphor within my films. In my film The Tale of Mari, for example, I used different animation techniques and materials to represent themes within the narrative. Fabric was used to indicate femininity and familial connection, painting over maps depicted the erasure of culture, and timelapsed drawings represented the creative process. Through careful consideration and blending of materials, I aim to create a visual language that enriches the story, adding depth and resonance to the themes I explore.

Texture and tactility draw me to stop motion animation. While I also enjoy illustrating and animating digitally, I appreciate the quirks and imperfections that come from working with physical materials. Small defects, as long as they are not distracting, act as my fingerprints in the artwork; they reveal the fabricated nature of the animation, and nod towards the person that created it. As technology continues to advance and art is increasingly commercialized, imperfections remind audiences that the work they’re viewing is not just a product, but a deeply personal expression of time, effort, and human touch.