Sonder & Static Snow

The following is my artist statement from my senior exhibition at Idaho State University. The exhibit was designed and prepared by myself and Ryan Babcock, the senior Gallery attendant.

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Sonder is a made-up word for a very real feeling. The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows was written by Pocatello native, John Koenig. He defines sonder as, “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.” Each and every person, no matter how mundane; whether it be a person next to you in traffic, a person walking past you on the street, or even the people throughout your day who you didn’t notice, has experienced life in a far different manner than yourself, and it had led them to that moment; just as it led you.

What represents a person? Is it just their physical being? Can a person be represented by only their hands, their eyes, their thoughts, their emotions? Can a person be represented by words, by colors, by smells, by feelings, by animals, by symbols, by arbitrary items like a push pin or a nail? These are all ideas I play with in my work.

People are individuals made up of their own sense of self, memories, and experiences all of which feels completely unique to each individual.

I’ve come to find in my personal experience, that our struggles, which feel so personal and individual, are usually shared by multitudes of people; bringing us together in ways that bring a certain sort of comfort. I want to show these connections, as they are a testament that we are never really alone.

I’m also interested in the way human lives are used in news media. Whether it’s just a number or a percentage, our life experiences are often dwindled down to just an existence. Without empathy these numbers are only numbers and nothing more, and they will always only be numbers until someone you love is a part of those numbers.

We live in a day and age where what represents us is often our use of technology and media; be that media the news media, social media, entertainment, writings, or just simulacra of ourselves on the internet. The way in which these digital personas interact often remind me of static snow on an old tv, when you just can’t find the right channel.

I’m inspired by artists like Nina Chanel Abney, for her ability to create political commentary in a simple figure in a complex narrative. I’m inspired by Barbra Kruger, for her ability to criticize society with brilliantly designed text and well-written words. I’m inspired by Egon Schiele, for his ability to add emotions into lines, even if they were grotesque. I’m inspired by Edward Hopper, for his ability to paint a somber scene and invoke the viewer to tell a story for the painting.

I hope my work inspires you to slow down in your day, and just appreciate the people you have and the people you may never know.