"My artwork often tells stories of healing through trauma, rebuilding and starting over," Brittany Noriega
How does your work interact with the theme of “A Generous Kingdom V: Art that Explores Story, Symbolism, and Beyond”?
My artwork often tells stories of healing through trauma, rebuilding and starting over. ‘In Us All’ specifically touches on these subjects and is a symbol itself for coming together to grow as one community despite the chaos, darkness and troubles that we all have inside of us.
Does the idea of transformation influence your work and process?
Absolutely. Transformation is a key subject in most of my work, and my process itself is all about healing and becoming new.
What draws you to the medium you chose? And tell us a little about your process (I don’t believe in giving it all away).
Plastic sculpture is a key element in this painting. I began experimenting with plastic sculpture as a way to illustrate chaos in my work, and the idea of working through and around chaos to heal.
What are the strengths of the medium? What are the challenges?
Plastic sculpture is a unique and intriguing element, especially when combined with drawing and painting. It creates unexpected and interesting 3D areas in a 2D work, which is exciting and unexpected. It is sometimes difficult to manipulate or control, but the effects and benefits always outweigh the challenges.
Who inspires you? And What do you do to get inspired?
My community inspires me. People overcoming the worst and in spite of everything, doing whatever they can to help others and lift others up. I am also inspired by the books I read and the authors that write them, I enjoy combining my studies with my artwork in different ways.
When I am feeling particularly uninspired I take a break, clean and get organized. Then I crack a book. Things usually fall into place after a little time and organization.
If you could have coffee or tea with any artist who would you pick? What would you have coffee or tea? What would you ask that artist?
Leonardo DaVinci, he was an incredible artist, inventor and scholar. He is one of the most inspiring people in the world. I would sit down with a coffee and ask him about his love of learning and how it led to or inspired his artwork and vice versa.
What do you hope your work achieves, in general, and/or specifically with this installation?
‘In Us All’ is part of a series called New Growth, inspired by healing through trauma, being an abuse survivor and creating a new life. I hope that my work inspires others and opens a new doorway to ways of expression and openness about healing and recovering through traumatic situations.
What recently made you smile?
My children singing silly songs that they made up.
What recently made you cry?
The movie It’s a Wonderful Life. I had never seen it before! What a beautiful story.
If you could tell your viewers one thing, what would you tell them?
To ask questions.