John Statement

Humanity exists in constant a state of turmoil. Our planetary climate is in a dynamic state, fertility is on the decline, displaced and refugee status is on the incline, these are only a few worldwide obstacles that we as a species are attempting cope with. There is not absolute solution to these issues either. The layers of nuance associated with these challenges run incredibly deep. The source of this turmoil, however, seems somewhat transparent: technology. Whether we are struggling to understand how to live with a type of technology or in other areas we have a lack of it, technology is a crux of our human condition. 

The common perception is that this technology is rooted in the world of science; an assumption that calls into question how art can be relevant in remedying any of these issues. Some would argue that art is meant to be a distraction or escape from our strife. I’d argue that art is not only bad at distraction but its ability to do so is trivial. Our world is more distracting today than ever before, so much so that despite the abundant access to information that our modernity has provided the level of distraction has blinded so much of our population to the fragility humanity’s status. 

Art has the ability to create a space that pulls us out of the sea of distraction and makes us aware of our own existence. This is the role I strive for in my creative practice. I create work that intends to cultivate self-awareness and mindfulness. Humanity’s relationship to technology and Art’s relationship to Science are common threads that runs through much of my work. I intend is to challenge societal understandings of what art and science are with the ultimate thesis that the line drawn between these fields is immeasurably blurred and permeable.  Ideally, this argument will lead to greater accessibility to and understanding of humanity’s unique relationship with technology. I believe mindfulness leads to awareness which leads to activism.