My work of interactive soft sculptures embraces ideas of joy, play and humour and conversely shame, awkwardness and doubt to navigate the complex terrain of human relations. By encouraging my audience to engage with several absurd cuddly forms and bright textual banners my work seeks to confront the many social limitations we place on ourselves and others. In this work I stumble from one awkward situation to another, never quite getting my words right, misunderstanding others and being misunderstood. From the hesitant hug, the misfired kiss, to the fumbling of hands, all are essentially fraught moments of human self-doubt. As a result, my work offers the audience an invitation to participate in a friendly embrace and to play with the many absurd colourful forms, texts and assemblages. However, they may conversely choose to watch from the sidelines, where the installation becomes a passive reminder of what is often out of reach. Strategically this project harnesses absurdity and humour to act as a foil by presenting oversized soft cuddly toys and texts that oscillate between the delight of a pun and the solemnity of a semiotic. It uses homely materials such as gingham, brightly coloured fabrics, buttons, toy stuffing, clamps and hardware fittings.

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Come Play with Me - Please Handle My Hugs with Kindness (detail), 2021  

participative installation  

2000 x 4000 x 4000 mm

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Come Play with Me - Please Handle My Hugs with Kindness (installation), 2021  

interactive installation

dimensions variable

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Come Play with Me - Please Handle My Hugs with Kindness (detail), 2021  

interactive installation

dimensions variable

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Come Play with Me - Protest! Protest (installation), 2021  

interactive installation  

2000 x 2000 x 2000 mm