The Sum Of Its Parts

This collection takes its title from Aristotle’s famous phrase, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. I’m interested in how certain mental states, such as awe or overwhelm, can be broken down into small, manageable pieces, yet when experienced at once, could become something overpowering or difficult to process.

In these works, I use the square as a repeated building block. Through layering, spacing and repetition, this shape is assembled in different configurations that demonstrates how complexity can grow out of simplicity. At times the patterns are clean and ordered, at other times they’re more dense and visually loaded. Some use bright, clashing colours, while others reference colours found in the natural environment.

While these works can feel intense or overloaded at first, they are ultimately constructed from one simple shape, reflecting the idea that larger or more overwhelming experiences can become more manageable when broken into smaller parts.