81 Chapters
In this ongoing series, I transform chapters of the Dao De Jing — a Chinese philosophical text — into sculptures made of cut text and wire. I create these pieces by hand-cutting the letters from a translated chapter and attaching the letters to wire. Then, I sculpt the wire into forms that hang from the ceiling and on the wall, as well as sit on the ground. More recently, I have begun to incorporate elements from the environment around me into this work.
I view the process of creating these pieces as a slow “translation” of the text. This process forms the basis from which I consider potential relationships between humans and nature, change and impermanence, and the imprecision of translating from one language, medium, and culture to another. Together, the pieces are intended to interact with each other and the space they are installed in.
Chapter Twenty-one (2024)
wire, cut text, clay, dried orchid stems, hand-woven rope from foraged grass, Chinese figurine dough, string, thread, a found stone, glue, 70 x 48 x 48 in (177.8 x 121.9 x 121.9 cm)
Chapter Twenty (2023)
wire, cut text, clay, figurine dough, string, thread, glue, 27 x 84 x 96 in (69 x 213 x 244 cm)
Chapter Nineteen (2022)
wire, cut text, branches, dried leaves and flowers in resin, string, ribbons, thread, glue, clay, 62 x 26 x 12 in (157 x 66 x 30 cm)
Chapter Eighteen (2022)
wire, cut text, branches, dried leaves and flowers in resin, a shell, string, thread, glue, clay, 72 x 24 x 18 in (183 x 61 x 46 cm)
Chapter Seventeen (2021)
wire, cut text, glue, dried leaves and flowers in resin, tree branch, 60 x 40 x 12 in (152 x 102 x 30 cm)
Chapter Sixteen (2021)
wire, cut text, glue, dried plants, and string, 22 x 20 x 10 in (56 x 51 x 25 cm)
Chapter Fifteen (2020)
wire, cut text, and glue, 32 x 14 x 10 in (81 x 36 x 25 cm)
Chapter Fourteen (2019-20)
wire, cut text, and glue, 36 x 15 x 12 in (91 x 38 x 30 cm)
Chapter Thirteen (2019)
wire, cut text, and glue, 20 x 48 x 30 in (51 x 122 x 76 cm)
Chapter Twelve (2018)
wire, cut text, and glue, 13 x 13 x 13 in (33 x 33 x 33 cm)
Chapter Eleven (2018)
wire, cut text, and glue, 13 x 13 x 13 in (33 x 33 x 33 cm)
Chapter Ten (2017)
wire, cut text, and glue, 48 x 32 x 12 in (122 x 81 x 30 cm)
Chapter Nine (2017)
wire, cut text, and glue, 72 x 30 x 30 in (183 x 76 x 76 cm)
Chapter Eight (2016)
wire, cut text, and glue, 12 x 16 x 16 in (30 x 40 x 40 cm)
Chapter Seven (2015)
wire, cut text, and glue, 18 x 20 x 15 in (46 x 51 x 38 cm)
Chapter Six (2015)
wire, cut text, and glue, 18 x 15 x 10 in (46 x 38 x 25 cm)
Chapter Five (2015)
wire, cut text, and glue, 10 x 34 x 28 in. (25 x 86 x 71 cm)
Chapter Four (2014)
wire, cut text, and glue, 33 x 14 x 7 in (84 x 36 x 18 cm)
Chapter Three (2014)
wire, cut text, and glue, 16 x 60 x 48 in. (40 x 152 x 122 cm)
Chapter Two (2013-14)
wire, cut text, and glue, 60 x 24 x 24 in (152 x 61 x 61 cm)
Chapter One (2012-13)
wire, cut text, and glue, 84 x 16 x 16 in (213 x 41 x 41 cm)
