Through self portrait photography and photographic sculpture, Beauty in Broken Things combines imagery of self destruction and reconstruction with symbolism of the spider, exploring the journey of transformation that occurs when one experiences traumatic incidents and when one later takes the steps to heal, confronting their traumas head on. The imagery in this body of work experiments with understanding and expressing some of the stages I’ve personally experienced: feeling trapped by my trauma and unable to be anything aside from a product of it, confronting my trauma and its roots to overcome it, and accepting that it is a part of who I am while acknowledging that it does not have to define me forever.
Within the larger body of work, Untitled #6 represents a pause that often comes when repeatedly reliving painful memories from the past. An instant where there is space to breathe and be present with one’s self within the chaos of transformation. A moment to take pride in progress, reassess before next steps, and mourn the realization of what’s been lost.