The Dual

by Meredith Bobb

“Every day the world grows more complex and we are in a constant rush to move faster, be more efficient and obtain more. We are presented with AI being used as a tool to create, however, it is in the human made mistakes and accidents of the creative process that leads to opportunity. Vulnerability is needed within the art making process. My goal is to bridge what is familiar with what is abstracted and yet give the viewer a place to connect on a personal level. My focus is on elements of emotion, tension and connection. It seems especially important to recognize that we are part of a “Collective,” all of us connected during this time of history. Artwork can serve as the reminder of who we are as people with more similarities than not. The paintings are created intentionally with no pre-planning so that I can capture where I am in that moment. I like to balance elements of drawing and painting in each piece. People are portrayed as bone-inspired sculptural faces and forms in unknown environments of movement. The process is organic and by rotating the canvas and layering colors, new visual opportunities are made. I use a combination of acrylic paint markers on top of thin washes of color to develop the flow in the work. I purposefully leave echoes of previous layers to show progression, something AI cannot learn. The creative process is a human process, which we need more of at this time. The balance of being both abstract and relatable is important to me to inspire dialogue with others. My goal is to connect with the viewer on an emotional and thoughtful level in the quiet space where we sit with ourselves.”