Creator Wave Vol 4: iri5
Humans are vessels gifted with the ability to translate cosmic energies to express it creatively. Every creative expression has been motivated by some sort of inner voice. Creator Wave is designed to highlight the artistic momentum exerted by the human soul. Showcasing visual art from all types of artists – from the recognized and established to the relatively obscure.
Creator Wave Vol 4: iri5
I asked this incredible and unique artist to be a part of Creator Wave after I was sent her work via email from a friend and she graciously agreed to be in our series. This is the type of art that removes itself from the normal fixtures of how art is approached. Old items are reinvented to create more expression, more meaning in the contents she manipulates. Check out what she has to say about it.
Artist Statement:
My name is Erika Iris Simmons, aka iri5. I am an artist who specializes in the use of non-traditional media, typically recycling used or donated items. I always get inspiration from the materials themselves. I try to take into account the physical properties, but also the societal connotations, and use those as a springboard for my imagination. I reinterpret the simple objects by cutting them into pieces, and rearranging the parts. I like the constraint of using nothing in addition to these pieces. Often my works become composite portraits. The goal is always to find a unity in the division; to surprise the viewer and remind them that there are fascinating worlds hidden in the seemingly mundane.
I like to let the materials do the talking; each material has a personality and I can’t force it too much to be something its not. With every new texture, be it plastic, tape, or paper, I step back and think, “If this could talk, what would it say? Would it tell a story?” I imagine that there is always some message to communicate. Once I have decided on a project, I usually make a simple stencil of what I want the desired picture to look like, then spend many hours sculpting and cutting and gluing until it looks like it makes sense. I find it thrilling when I can take a whole mess of chaos, and put it back together, like a jigsaw puzzle, with every bit contributing in its own way.
