scott szarkowicz
artist's statement
I am a very tactile individual and love to work with my hands. The creation and presentation of sculptural works and installations allows me to explore and discover new ways of communicating my observations of our world in ways that extend beyond the usual, everyday modes of expression. To me, art is community and a way of bonding with others in the world.
Bodily interaction with the work and the ability to view it from multiple angles/heights are important aspects of my work. I seek to create an environment where the viewer can manipulate and rearrange some of the pieces or objects held within my work. It is of significant importance that viewers understand this invitation for interaction and their cooperation with each piece as vital primary and vital to the life of the work. As the viewer communicates with each piece, a deeper cognition develops from one's own viewpoint and uncovers an interpretation that is unique and personal for each viewer.
In the past, I have created artworks that specifically invite viewer interaction, such as my piece "Participation." "Participation" began with a written invitation to interact with the work, which allowed the viewers to rearrange fragile, organic rice-paper forms. The interaction by the viewer/participant creates an entirely new piece of artwork and moves the participant past the role as a viewer, into the role of creator of a collaborative composition with other viewer/artists. This line of thinking is also present in my more recent interactive piece "Rock Balance Challenge", where I invite the viewer to enter into a play environment with other viewers of the work, challenging them to make the highest or most elaborate orchestration of the rocks that are presented with the work. I feel that the use of the simple materials of sand, river rock and wood offer an inviting and warm piece that appeals to the creative and playful nature of the human spirit.
Semiotics and the deciphering of signs contained in artworks are also of interest to me. Furthermore, I appreciate the ability of each individual viewer to make their own interpretation of an artwork based on their unique assessment of the signifiers and the meanings that they present to their own lives. By using common, easily distinguishable objects such as branches, flowers, soil, and rocks viewers who interface with my work can interpret a meaning common to a large populace, yet the objects still offer specific and different meanings to us, as individuals, based upon our associations with those objects in our own specific context.
The universal allure with unexceptional objects is an intentional venture on my part to create work that is more approachable and appealing to a wider audience. Often, I find the audience or viewers of art feel that the interpretation or deciphering of works to be a daunting and intimidating task. This is especially true of the more general public, who feel they may not possess the tools or appropriate language to fully engage or enjoy works of art that are beyond the scope of their comprehension. By having viewers socialize with my work in a non-threatening and playful way, I am seeking new pathways that will allow these viewers to create a positive and rewarding experience.
As a member of a collective of creative individuals who share the responsibility of making the world around us a better place, I believe our impact on the world will be evident in the way we work collectively as artists, as well as about how I perform as an individual member of the collective.
Bodily interaction with the work and the ability to view it from multiple angles/heights are important aspects of my work. I seek to create an environment where the viewer can manipulate and rearrange some of the pieces or objects held within my work. It is of significant importance that viewers understand this invitation for interaction and their cooperation with each piece as vital primary and vital to the life of the work. As the viewer communicates with each piece, a deeper cognition develops from one's own viewpoint and uncovers an interpretation that is unique and personal for each viewer.
In the past, I have created artworks that specifically invite viewer interaction, such as my piece "Participation." "Participation" began with a written invitation to interact with the work, which allowed the viewers to rearrange fragile, organic rice-paper forms. The interaction by the viewer/participant creates an entirely new piece of artwork and moves the participant past the role as a viewer, into the role of creator of a collaborative composition with other viewer/artists. This line of thinking is also present in my more recent interactive piece "Rock Balance Challenge", where I invite the viewer to enter into a play environment with other viewers of the work, challenging them to make the highest or most elaborate orchestration of the rocks that are presented with the work. I feel that the use of the simple materials of sand, river rock and wood offer an inviting and warm piece that appeals to the creative and playful nature of the human spirit.
Semiotics and the deciphering of signs contained in artworks are also of interest to me. Furthermore, I appreciate the ability of each individual viewer to make their own interpretation of an artwork based on their unique assessment of the signifiers and the meanings that they present to their own lives. By using common, easily distinguishable objects such as branches, flowers, soil, and rocks viewers who interface with my work can interpret a meaning common to a large populace, yet the objects still offer specific and different meanings to us, as individuals, based upon our associations with those objects in our own specific context.
The universal allure with unexceptional objects is an intentional venture on my part to create work that is more approachable and appealing to a wider audience. Often, I find the audience or viewers of art feel that the interpretation or deciphering of works to be a daunting and intimidating task. This is especially true of the more general public, who feel they may not possess the tools or appropriate language to fully engage or enjoy works of art that are beyond the scope of their comprehension. By having viewers socialize with my work in a non-threatening and playful way, I am seeking new pathways that will allow these viewers to create a positive and rewarding experience.
As a member of a collective of creative individuals who share the responsibility of making the world around us a better place, I believe our impact on the world will be evident in the way we work collectively as artists, as well as about how I perform as an individual member of the collective.
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