Reflections of History

This abstract piece in my Urban Decay series is a contemplation on the interplay between human nature and Mother Nature’s relentless capacity to decompose, rebuild, and recreate. Grounded in a study of the Low Country of Charleston, South Carolina, the work explores how both organic environments and human lives accumulate intricate, distinct layers over time—layers that are built up, weathered, damaged, and ultimately transformed.Using non-traditional tools like trowels and palette knives, I sculpt the canvas through physical, tactile processes. Deep blue and rich plaster form a heavy foundation, interwoven with cheesecloth to introduce textile texture and structural vulnerability. Touches of deep red, vibrant blues, and shimmering gold and silver intersect across the surface, echoed by the organic fluidity of epoxy resin drips. A key element of the work involves reactive iron, which I deliberately oxidize to create actual rust on the canvas alongside delicate gold leaf. This juxtaposition of raw, corroding iron with luminous precious metal mirrors the dual forces at play: the industrial or architectural remnants of human presence yielding to natural chemical decay and organic regeneration.