Vivika Mathews- Curatorial Rationale

I have always been inspired by nature. Ever since I was younger, I have liked going outside and playing in the yard with my brothers. These memories of when I was younger are something that I cherish. In regards to my art, I have always been comfortable depicting nature in my artwork as well, it was recognizable to me and it was easy for me to portray. I also found it calming working on pieces that showcase those subject matters. I find nature inspiring and intriguing to depict because it is a broad subject; there are numerous aspects that can be illustrated in nature: trees, flowers, animals, lakes, etc.

I selected these specific pieces of art because they show my personal journey and growth of my art, including numerous creative processes. As I have had a hard time appreciating my own work, the pieces I have created throughout the year are ones that I am genuinely proud of. I think the pieces show my strengths as an artist, both visually and conceptually. It demonstrates the different challenges that I have undertaken by stepping out of my comfort zone by using a variety of new materials. By presenting these specific artworks, I hope to show a sort of cohesion with the style and with the overarching theme of my works; the beauty of nature. To focus on the theme, I tried to include elements of nature or have the subject being focused on something from nature such as a succulent or a landscape.

Through the year I have mostly explored using acrylic paint and developing my painting techniques. I explored my painting techniques starting from The Process of Abstraction to Mountain Landscape, where I refined and explored my painting techniques. I have found my style and way of painting such as layering paint. I also experimented with using a palette knife and with different brush strokes. I used bright and vibrant colors for emphasis and tried using contrasting colors for shadows and highlights, instead of merely white highlights or a dark blue for shadows.

Through my pieces, I have also tried to undertake challenges through my art such as with the Fox’s Canyon, Spring Blossoms, and Frail Tree. They were challenging to me because they were created with new materials that I have never used before. Creating a piece with mixed media has always been something I have wanted to try but never had the time, opportunity, or resources to create one.

For the placement of images, I present The Process of Abstraction first because it's my oldest piece. Following that is Spring Blossoms. I think the soft pink colors of the flowers and the cats on top of the pot draw viewers in, leaving people curious for more. The piece is different from The Process of Abstraction, but it has strong stylistic connections. Even though it is visually different, it shows my variety of skills between the two pieces. I wanted the last piece to be Huron Parkway as an homage and goodbye since, it is my senior year. Having the arrangement of the pieces starting from The Process of Abstraction to Huron Parkway, is a way to demonstrate the connection and the improvements of the way I paint.

I hope through observing my pieces, people will look at nature in a different way and also notice the various colors that make up an object. I also hope that people will truly become aware of the things around them and notice the little details as well.