In my academic and personal pursuits, I have become aware of a phenomenon that astounds and excites me. By watching nature documentaries, films about the universe (thank you, Carl Sagan), and skimming through the Internet I have found that there are several forms in our universe that echo each other. These forms are repeated regardless of scale- for example, Jupiter’s storm patterns remarkably mimic the cross section of a tilia plant. This repetition of forms throughout our environment- from a tiny atom to an inconceivably large galaxy, create a network that connects everything we are aware of. Artistically, this understanding motivates me to find forms and patterns that are part of our world- the Fibonacci sequence (or Golden Mean) is an example that several master painters have used as a structure for their paintings. Even in music, patterns are repeated throughout cultures, such as “Pachelbel’s Canon” also known as “Canon in D Major” which is mimicked in rock and even rap songs!
This astounding interconnectedness leads into my personal artwork, because even before I started thinking about these repeating forms, I was trying to connect people with my work. I frequently utilize emotion, personal experiences and memories as subject matter, in order to connect with my viewers. John Dewey, in his book Art as Experience says this: “That art weds man and nature is a familiar fact. Art also renders men aware of their union with one another in origin and destiny.” By creating aesthetic experiences through my work, I strive to connect my viewers to myself and to each other. It is similar to the universal concept of repeated forms: if we recognize the similarities within each of us, instead of focusing our energy inward and seeing everyone else as “others” or “different”, we can push forward as a progressive society, or even species.
