John David James
the goldfinch, 2024
Through my gesture sculpture, rendered life-size and crafted from memories of the original, I seek to capture the essence of this transformative era. In a world increasingly mediated by screens and algorithms, the concept of identity has taken on new dimensions.
My sculptures serve as tangible reflections of this hybrid existence, inviting viewers to contemplate the fluidity and multiplicity of modern identity. Through subtle gestures and expressions, I strive to evoke the nuances of human experience in the digital age – the tension between authenticity and artifice, the longing for connection amidst digital noise, and the constant negotiation of selfhood in a world of shifting contexts.
By presenting these themes in the form of life-size sculptures, I aim to create an immersive experience that blurs the boundaries between the physical and the digital. As viewers engage with the sculpture, they are encouraged to reflect on their own relationship with technology and identity.
Ultimately, my goal as an artist is to inspire curiosity and introspection, prompting viewers to question the evolving landscape of identity in our increasingly digitalized world.
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I am a conceptual artist, raised in Strachan Creek, B.C. and residing on Salt Spring Island. Often my images are deconstructed to the extent that meaning is shifted and creates multiple interpretations. Many of my themes directly respond to my surrounding environment and the history of art, while I explore the intersection between landscape, the figure and abstraction. Elements from within a scene may be isolated and reframed to create a dialogue around place and materiality. Often I try to utilize the idea of presenting art as the foundation to create work. Playing within the thought of being both the creator and the viewer.