4D Studio Art
“Jack of all trades, master of none” is a common turn of phrase used to show that while someone may dabble in many interests, they’re unable to have the insight or skill of someone dedicated to a single field. However, in modern times the phrase has found itself a couplet: “...Though oftentimes better than master of one”. As soon as I could read, I’d take in new information like air: fictional worlds, animal biology, mechanical diagrams, the obscure histories of sports – its importance was irrelevant, I simply loved to learn new things. While refining my creative output at the School of Art, I learned to lean on my influx of interests and embrace incongruity.
Before pursuing a career in animation and film, my artwork was rooted entirely in illustration: I was proficient with a pen, became comfortable with digital art software, and had stuck with a consistent style. However, as I began familiarizing myself with the process of filmmaking and animation, I became more and more interested in combining these disciplines. I was animating 2D figures in real locations, placing illustrated backgrounds on a 3D plane, creating digital puppets out of cut-up photographs, and so on; acquiring new software always meant I had yet another medium to collage with.
Access Random Memories is an encapsulation of that process; four years of experimentation compressed into one explosion of sound and color. Memories as a framing device arose through the need for a connective tissue – our ability to recall past events are often exaggerated or patchy, certain senses stick out while others recede, and they’re confined to a singular perspective. Combining different mediums felt like a natural way of communicating these abstract concepts to the viewer. Specific touchstones for this project include the eclectic animated stylings of Don Hertzfeldt, the evocative collages of Raoul Hausmann, director Charlie Kaufman’s representations of the psyche, and a short essay by musician Robin Pecknold describing fabricated memories from their childhood.
My work is all of my personal interests and experiences projected onto a screen. I can’t say what that will look like five years from now — all I can do is to continue creating and see where it takes me.
