Artist Statement

My work focuses on highlighting and commenting on the exploitation of the working class under capitalism, particularly with regards to labour and working life. A theory that influences my practice currently, is one regarding the manipulation of workers according to Antonio Gramsci, through the idea of "common sense". This states those with success are those who work the hardest, which would also suggest that those without success or those who fail, are those committing the least of their labour power. This is used to manipulate and exhaust workers with the aim of achieving capital success and my work looks to highlight and expose this. 

Some recent works portray this exploitation, through the deterioration of steel plates, done by over-etching them deeply in nitric acid, which bites into the surface of exposed steel consisting of expressive gestures and marks, as well as text and image. The print is then polished back revealing surfaces and textures that depict fatigue and decay. The plate itself then becomes an artefact, creating worth by exploiting the material in the same way the worker is exhausted in the strive for capital. The text and imagery included is transferred to the plate through photo-etching techniques and are taken from the media and images collected through photography.

​

​