Graduate Show
'Distorted roots’ Mixed Media Installation, 2024
Metal Printing, 3D printing, 3D animation, Digital Painting
Throughout my artistic journey, teeth have held a potent significance, symbolizing endurance beyond corporeal decay and embodying the core of individuality. In this installation, I embark on an exploration of self-understanding amidst the labyrinthine realms of the digital landscape using teeth to represent the “roots” of my identity.
The advent of digital frameworks has ushered in a change in how I perceive myself and others. As the myriad of internet subcultures and influences grows, my grasp on personal identity has become enigmatic, a puzzle constantly and consistently reshaped by online experiences.
The installation consists of two printed panels, each depicting a half of a mouth—a dichotomy symbolizing the duality of identity. On the right, a digitally painted/textured representation of my mouth mirrors introspection, where I am investigating the roots of my being. On the opposing panel, the left side portrays a distorted amalgamation of glitchy teeth evocative of digital alteration. This visual disjunction of the two half of a mouth underscores the schism between innate identity and its digitally warped counterpart.
'Distorted roots’ 2024, Matthew Kenney
Digital paintings printed on aluminium, 3D sculpted and printed teeth mounted on the print
Complementing the printed panels, a 3D animation is displayed on a nearby screen. Here, the narrative unfolds as teeth undergo a metamorphosis, relinquished to the digital space. They morph into glitch-ridden versions of themselves, no longer recognizable within the confines of my mouth. This symbolic journey mirrors the transmutation of identity under the sway of digital influences, as the altered teeth demand attention while the fundamental roots recede into the background.
Ultimately, my intent is to provoke introspection among viewers, urging them to contemplate the pervasive influence of the digital realm on their own sense of self. Through this immersive exploration of identity and its digital metamorphosis, I aspire to highlight the intricate interplay between individuality and our increasingly digital society.
'Distorted roots’ 2024, Matthew Kenney
3D Animation, displayed on CRT