Alissa Kono
Untitled (2021)
I spent a lot of time alone growing up; in those moments, I would often fall into a trance. I pushed past boredom and solitude by finding fascination in materials that some might find grimy. The muddy sand in my backyard, the mold that grew along the side of my house, the different materials led to magical worlds in which I could smuch, squeeze, and scrub to my heart's content. With my art, I attempt to induce a similar state between trance and frenzy in myself and the viewer. By smearing gooey yam fibers and layering soggy paper mache, I build three-dimensional pieces that translate and produce the trance-like mode of being that I often experience. Returning to the sense of "ick" that I sought as a child, I choose materials that demonstrate the general allure of wet, hairy substances. When you look at my work, I want you to be transfixed by the variety of surfaces and textures I create. Sit and stare for a bit, and perhaps you too can fall into my state of mind.