Andromyda Wagenman
Thesis Statement
SP20
The Poetic Landscape
My thesis proposal emerged as an attempt to answer some really big questions. My inquiries revolved around subjectivity, community, and love in the face of crisis and change. It emphasized the importance of wonder and love within the context of climate change pressures, highlighting the potential of awe to inspire human beings to be more conscientious in the ways that we act and think. My faith in hope and empathy is lasting.
However, as my work has progressed, the concepts guiding me have simplified to become even more personal, with the biggest emphasis on presentness and healing.
Every piece in this body of work has been prompted by a simple moment in my recent life. Each one is tied to a point in time where I felt truly present and connected to the world around me. These drawings, paintings, and sculptures are the products of inner work and time in the studio. I’ve been learning about myself, how I relate to the world, and how I want to live.
This work isn’t about scrambling to express love before it’s too late or making gestures to fix things. Rather, it has become about sitting with the world in stillness and trying to relate to it. It’s about being in touch with myself and my surroundings, trying to understand realities and draw meaning from them.
In the times that I find it hard to remember why it’s beautiful to be alive, these records serve as priceless reminders of how delicious it can be to be breathing, even how rich it can be to feel sadness and the very real hurt of the world.
