Fabricated Narratives
The theatrics of storytelling is a powerful aspect of culture and is a means to create another reality that stretches beyond our ordinary lives. When exploring the stories around us or expressing our personal experiences, each generation finds a way to make these stories reflect their time. People, often being family, tell us these stories and attempt to connect us to the world by illustrating who we are and where we come from. This correlation between history and the present gives us a sense of belonging. Without these stories, I feel disconnected from that awareness of my place in the grand scheme of things.
I playfully fabricate memories with my spouse, parents, siblings, and in-laws, as I fill in the holes caused by the absence of stories. I take into consideration the various personalities, quirks, and typical environments that my relatives and I live in. My paintings are embellishments of personal experiences with family. By putting them in these normal settings with such unusual circumstances, I create my own stories, both familiar and fantastic at the same time. It is in these extraordinary situations that we find the stories that are more worth telling.
