Artist Statement

By living in a world that is driven by technological advancements, I am concerned that an over reliance on technology is detrimental to human mental health and social interaction.

Shattered, explores how over intrusive technology makes people feel isolated and inhuman. I drew a series of gears and circuits on the subject’s face to represent how technology has taken over her life and aspects of her mental state. I broke some glass and took photos of it, so I could add it on top of the subject. These broken shards emphasize the idea that because technology is a dominating factor in her life, she feels broken. 

One specific technological element affecting mental health is the influence of social media. Double Tap explores insecurities and diminished self-worth caused by social media’s arbitrary standards. I added an empty heart and a number above each version of the subject to show the number of “likes” each girl received--depicting how social media unfairly determines our self-worth based on the harsh tally of unseen voters. The expressions of jealousy, self-doubt, and resentment are the empty prizes for the contestants. 

Similarly, Techno Nutrition explores how people’s self-image and eating habits are affected by the overuse of technology. Social media’s changing diet trends, depictions of idyllic bodies, or simple distractions that interrupt or interfere with mealtimes cause people to overeat, refrain from eating or to eat unhealthily. I wrapped a measuring tape and charging cord around the subject’s stomach to show that technology is regulating her eating habits. I changed her belly button to an outlet and placed a plug and apple in each of her hands to imply that technology is choosing when and how much she eats. 

Attention compares a human’s attention span to that of a goldfish to highlight the importance of keeping a consistent focus and preventing unnecessary distraction from our devices. I did a photoshoot illustrating an ironic scene where the gazes of a girl and a goldfish are both transfixed on each other, but within a matter of seconds, they will both lose their interest. 

Not Delivered focuses on the sad truth of the consequences of texting while driving. I set up a scene that looks like the aftermath of a distracted driving car accident to bring attention to this social issue. Another issue that drastically affects people is listening to music on high volumes. Bloody Noise brings awareness to hearing loss due to technology. The expression on the subject’s face along with the blood dripping down her ear clearly shows the discomfort caused by loud sounds. The movement of lines in the background represents noise and sound waves that are giving the subject severe hearing damage. 

This portfolio brings awareness to the impact of an over-reliance on technology. I believe that over time, overuse of technology causes people to develop unhealthy habits and social behaviors. It is important to limit the amount of time spent on technology, so peoples’ mental health, physical senses, and brain activity are protected.

Notable Awards