My art examines the visceral sensations felt by those living in displacement. Resonating with my own struggle of being displaced, my sculptures are an exploration of my relationship with place as a displaced person. I am discovering a tactile language to which allows these sensations to be expressed, take up space, whilst giving us the permission to stay silent.

The sculptures are formed by the intentional amalgamation of  two materials, leather and clay. A marriage that happened organically as I embraced their contradictions; with leather, every step must be planned and measured, while clay is malleable and highly impressionable. I progress with the cross fertilisation of techniques, weaving and pulling clay as if it was leather, and treating leather as if it was a material with fluid characteristics. All the while pushing each material into uncomfortable positions with palpable tension. This process mirrors our struggle and discomfort to adapt in a so-called new home.

The result of this performative act are highly textural sculptural forms where the two contrasting materials are effortlessly entangled. In its juxtaposition, clay embraces leather and leather leads clay to find a new shape and identity. As we ruminate over these forms, we may eventually lose all sense of the materiality and ultimately sit with the transposed silence, a new language that gives a physical form, resonance, and hope to the muted struggles of displacement. More pointedly, it gives us the permission to stay silent, all the while expressing these overwhelming feelings.

Exhibitions:

'Starling Studio' 2024 (solo show) in Brighton, UK

'Thrown Contemporary Winter Exhibitions' 2024 (online)

'Future Icons Select’ for London Crafts Week 2023 in London, UK

'Decorex with QEST' 2022 in London, UK

'Material Matters' 2022 in London, UK