Theidea of identity fascinates me. What makes us who we are and why do we do thethings we do? In my work, I try topay a great deal of attention to addressing the questions that I ask myself inorder to help define the world around me as well as the events that take place.The intent of addressing these questions is not necessarily to come to ananswer.
Ibelieve that the most interesting, inspiring, and defining part of what makesus human are the flaws and foibles of our nature. By examining these flaws I try to create a dialogue of theuniversal so that the work has the ring of truth that everyone can access onsome level. I attempt to createexpression and predicament that has a subtle sense of gravity while, at thesame time, adding levity with an element of satire. Though most of my observations come normally from myreactions to external events that take place around me, in the body of work Ihave titled “The Devil you Know…” I instead turn the lens inward and evaluatemy own quirks and personal biases and how they impact the world that I livein. By looking through the otherend of the telescope, I turn myself from an observer into an active participantin the moments I create. It is anuneasy but necessary evaluation that I feel must take place from time to time.
Mywork draws upon the rich history of the ceramic figurine because it has oftenbeen used in a ritual and mythic sense and also as a means of cultural andpersonal identification. I seethese figures, much like the adages and idioms that they are titled with, as areservoir of cultural investment that changes with us as we change. I work on a small scale because Ibelieve it allows a more intimate connection with the piece while still allowingthe viewer a broad exploration into the individual reality of each work. While paying homage to and addressingthe preciousness of pre industrial revolution figurines, I combine them with avalue that is steeped in modern production. I attempt to create figures that carry in them a hybridizationof the old and the new while still carrying a flavor of Middle America fromwhich they are born.
DerekReeverts
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