Thesis Proposal

My thesis will focus on blending the line between three- and two-dimensional space. Through the contortion of line I will create spaces that only exist within the perception of the viewer. These pieces will straddle the boundary between the second and third dimension in a way that is convincing through visual trickery.

By working with line, my pieces are able to be constructed in any size imaginable, from monumental sculptural installations to small jewelry works. Although I will explore different scales in each work, I will maintain the core concept of creating a three-dimensional space within a two-dimensional plane.

The morphing, sinuous forms I work with stem from doodles I have made in every sketchbook I have ever owned. These forms have been on the edge of my conscious brain any time my attention lapses or I am absent-mindedly filling time. The topographical spaces they create often resemble ribbons fluttering in the wind, molten lava slowly eating its way down a hill, or digitally manufactured landscapes running off of a screen.

There is a great deal of precedent in art history of drawing in space using wire or line, from Antony Gormley’s figurative sculptures to Gianni Colombo’s kinetic artworks. I intend to carry these methods forward in my own art as I push the boundaries of dimensional illusion.