AVATAR: A STUDY IN PERCEPTION

Avatar is an interactive sculpture that asks a simple question:

how much of what we see is shaped by our own perception?

When you look at him, what do you see?

Is he good or bad?
What kind of energy does he carry?
Does he have any powers?
And if you could name him, what would you call him?

I deliberately didn't give him a story or tell people who he was. I wanted the viewer to decide for themselves.

When I first exhibited Avatar at my solo exhibition, I placed a board beside him and invited visitors to write down their answers. It was fascinating to see how differently people responded to exactly the same figure. Some saw one thing, while someone else saw something completely different.

And that became an important part of the artwork.

Avatar isn't really about whether he is good or bad. He's about the person looking at him.

Our experiences, beliefs and feelings can all influence what we think we see in someone or something before we know anything about them.

So the question isn't only, "Who is he?"

It's also, "What does the way you see him say about you?"

Year: 2015

Size: 187.96 x 50.8cm

Medium: Thread and Acrylic paint on Fibre Glass

Technique: Thread Blending and Thread Suturing