Too Tough, 2025

As the first piece of its series, Too Tough is an amalgamation of multiple artistic processes including printing, collaging, weaving, and drawing. The work is a testament to an artist’s experimentations and never ending process of trial and error. Most noticeably seen by the centipede prints in the lower left corner of the work, the primary colored paper is assembled to exhibit the most successful portions of the prints. 

This assemblage weaves prints of family photographs and glimpses of nature. Using cyanotypes, linocuts and found objects, Too Tough explores toughness, fragility, memories, nature and identity. There is an active dialogue between human nature and growing up alongside the natural world’s innately tough yet gentle characteristics. We are confronted with gritted teeth, centipedes and chain link fences. Yet we also observe childhood photos of innocence, decorative ribbon and foliage seen beyond the chain link foreground. The piece is held together by interlaced embroidery thread creating tension against the wooden frame in a see through encasing as an honest revelation. A disembodied portrait complete in a fragile form.

Too Tough confronts the artist’s identity that feels too tough at times, but too soft at other moments. The result asks: what does it mean to be too tough? How about too soft?