Structure and Play
Updated: Dec 6, 2021
What does it mean “to play”? After doing some reading, I came to realize it’s more complex than I thought. Playing seems all about having fun, being creative, and feeling liberated in some way. But then, in all forms of games, there are rules, a rigid structural element. In actuality, the act of playing requires two contrasting elements, the structured and the spontaneous. I immediately think of the relationship between the warp and weft in textiles. The warp is fixed, and the weft is unfixed and full of potential. In nearly all my works, there is a game-like quality, where I initially determine the parameters. My most recent series, “MatchBox Park,” a small 3D collage the size of a matchbox, is no exception. In this series, the predetermined is the 3.5 x 5 x 1 cm box, and what is improvised is the composition in the box. Once I have the box in front of me, I can easily zone into the small space and start exploring and playing.
