Immolation

Justyn Rosas

ARTIST STATEMENT

​To immolate is to kill or sacrifice, especially by burning. This piece represents the immolation of my own well being in order to bring life back to something that had been long dead. It was inspired by the recurring negative thoughts I was having about my relationship at the time, and eventually became the physical manifestation of those thoughts. Creating this piece was a way for me to make sense of everything I was going through and with its completion I was able to realize that I was giving too much of myself to something that was only going to demand more.
I chose to use fold forming techniques for both halves of the work because they produced a more natural, less defined look that helped me represent the abstract nature of my inspiration. Although both forms stand on their own as singular entities when they come together they create a burning torch. The first form has begun to collapse in on itself. Far from its original state it's become dark and hollow only able to hold on to the void within.  The second form has contorted itself into a shape tailored specifically to wrap around the first form and protect it from further damage. It is bright and clings tightly to the first form, however it's edges are cracking and it's begun to deteriorate as well. The first form has held the second captive much like a torch does with fire. The flame however clings desperately to the torch, filled with the fear of burning out completely on its own.