Fortuity
Artist Statement
It seems the harder we try to control our circumstances, the more the universe imposes a certain mayhem that will not cooperate with our intentions. It becomes apparent that not everything can be controlled. Therefore, the uncomfortable disparity between our desires and our reality must be acknowledged. Addressing this discrepancy can provide more fulfillment in our lives. We can fight tirelessly against the inevitable variabilities of life, or we can defy our natural tendencies and embrace opportunities that chance occurrences present.
This photographic series is my personal experimentation with concepts surrounding the dichotomy of control and the lack thereof. As an individual, I have always felt a strong need to control nearly all the factors in my life. This mentality subconsciously carried over into my artistic practice. I have always felt a strong connection between control over the execution of my artwork and my ownership of the outcome. In this project, my goal was to exercise my ability to let go of certain factors I would normally micromanage. Making room for the unpredictable to reign opened the way for my shared authorship with chance.
Chance occurrences are ever present; however, I hope these photographs will encourage the viewer to cultivate a relationship with chance rather than resist it. In doing so, our compulsory need to influence can be tactfully mitigated, and our internal conflict with chaos can be transformed into a harmonious duet.