I design sculptures and then choreograph dances on them. The sculptures and dances are non-linear. They have a flow and if you listen carefully, you can follow the story.
Abstraction allowed me to disguise my story in a way that I wouldn’t have to offend anyone or create a new trauma by sharing my painful experiences with the world. I made shapes and movement textures that summarized my experience. This way I got my story out of my mind and body and owned it. I regained control by becoming the author. And I no longer was in danger of poisoning myself with its content.
I didn’t want the story of my trauma to become a theme for other people in my life. I just wanted a way to make peace with what I experienced. And art is good at that.
The people I guide have pain in their pasts. We make things. We process pain. Abstraction allows you to connect to the crudest experience of pain and makes it safe to share those creations with the world.