Mixed Media
I created this artwork in 1992, shortly after finishing high school, at a time when life felt full of transition and uncertainty. The piece is layered with acrylic paint, ink, collage, and tape, each medium adding depth to the imagery and to the emotions I was trying to capture. At its center is a photocopied picture of my high school girlfriend, taken during the Renaissance festival, where her playful and joyful side shines through. While the image shows lightheartedness, the piece itself carries the weight of separation, anxiety, and loneliness that I was wrestling with in my youth. It became a way to reconcile the happiness of shared memories with the growing pains of change and distance.
This work was created alongside Super Model, and the two were always meant to be displayed together, reflecting different sides of the same story. Woven into the piece are references to our high school, the pivotal year of 1992, and small inside jokes that belonged only to us. It also contains my first experiments with techniques like blowing paint and layering unconventional materials, marking the beginning of my exploration into mixed media. In the bottom right corner, the words “We’ve stood together miles apart” serve as both a confession and a promise. They capture the essence of a bond that managed to endure beyond youth and distance, a friendship that still remains part of my life today.