DuduBloom More
Throughout my work, I am always drawn to colour and the theory of it – I use it as a focal point. I see colour as a way to evoke a mood, as it affects my moods too. For each artwork, I intend to use shapes, line, and the qualities of colour to share my vulnerabilities and/or create a burst of energy. Colour is an extension of how I feel, and I embody the energy of those colours in the work I create.
Building one large object from joint, smaller, woollen objects, or layering thread and materials, reminds me of experiences, influences, situations, and people/communities that make me whole, as a Black girl who has grown into a Black woman. My playful process is an exploration and remembering of how all these experiences and communities have influenced and affected my mental health to this day, and how I now live with these qualities on a day-to-day basis. The use of thread and wool makes it an auditory, tactile, omni-sensory experience. The familiar motif in my work is the circle – it feels like a world on its own, and a space that could have a beginning and an end.
The exercise of building and remembering has made the creation of my work a cathartic process. The continuous self-learning has not only helped me with my anxiety but has now led me to a pursuit of joy. My chosen mediums have the qualities of fragility and strength, similar to the progression of understanding one’s mental health. The play-based process results in abstract works that elicit individual questions and perspectives. Its abstractness transcends the aspect of the physical body, but encompasses the mental, spiritual, emotional elements of being in this Black body.
