Unlit fireworks embody potential energy in its purest form. They are ephemeral, cross-cultural expressions of creativity, often exhibiting exquisite printing and ingenious design. As a child, I was captivated by fireworks. A significant part of their allure lay in the ability to hold this unpredictable object, fostering a sense of control and power over a potentially dangerous event. My journey as an artist began with fireworks. The limited ways to "play" with fireworks led me to disassemble my secret stash in my room, under the guise of "doing homework." I would combine powders and cardboard tubes to create new, imaginative charges.
In my work, I excavate the delicate territory between childhood wonder and the edges of danger - a space I first discovered in my own backyard experiments with fireworks and homemade potato cannons. These early adventures weren't merely acts of rebellion; they were my first encounters with the profound questions that continue to drive my artistic practice: Where does play end and peril begin? What transforms a hazard into an opportunity for discovery?
Despite suffering third-degree burns across my chest at age 14 (one of my nipples remain discolored to this day), it took nearly losing my hand to a steel cartridge filled with potassium nitrate and powdered sugar to truly learn my lesson. I had anticipated a shower of sparks, but the reality was far more destructive. With this series, I aim to capture the excitement I felt while handling my collection, and to evoke in others a sense of the joy and beauty inherent in vintage, hand-drawn labels.
