Tangle (2022)
Cherie joined McDaniel during the fall of 2017, took a gap year during the pandemic, and graduated as an art and art history major. Her graduation project is called Tangle, and it is for sure eye-catching. As she describes it, it is an
“ongoing visual art project inspired by my complex feelings during the COVID time. In Tangle series, red knots and abstract human figures are my visual languages, asking about the complexity of interpersonal relationships. This is an ongoing project, so I won’t call it a finished project yet. My exhibition at graduation was designed to show the concept and development progress of Tangle.”
Although she does not have a favorite piece, she did describe how she found the visual language for Tangle, as that was her favorite part of the process.
“I would like to share my experience of finding my visual language of project Tangle. It is my favourite part of the creation process of this project. The visualization process for the Tangle project was phase by phase. I put this theme together by collecting my photographs and diaries from the COVID times. In the process of organizing materials and ideas, I realized that I don’t want to draw photos or memory scenes. For me, it’s about my feeling and trying to resonate, not to re-show COVID times scenes in the name of visual art. After determining the direction, I started sketching driven by inspiration and visual experience. I wanted to visualize the tangled feelings of difficulty in grasping the proper distance of interpersonal relationships. And the complex feeling that an individual is always dragged into groups. These reminded me of the red ropes and knots that represent relationships in Chinese tradition. So based on the shape of knots, I further abstracted human figures. I intend to create feelings of movement on painting.”
“As a result, I drew human figures like flowing smoke, like water flows, and even like crazy growing tree roots. The red knot is not only my chosen allegorical element but also complements the expression of the entangled human body. Red figures appear to have peeled off their skins, making it impossible for viewers to determine their skin color or ethnic appearance. The complexity of human relationships, just like the “Mind Game” mentioned in John Lennon’s song, is a common human topic across time and space.”
Her exhibition did not only include drawings but also included several other mediums such as an installation named “Standing on The Sidelines”, oil painting on canvas, fabric, and even had her digital practice (shown above) projected onto a wall.
Cherie also has a website she is currently developing so if you are interested have a look: https://cltestfield.com/
– Canan Atik