Simplify
Simplify represents a desperate desire to feel joy: understanding the components and physical attributes, but being unable to simply breathe and smile — the struggle to draw from the simple, rhythmic continuum in our lives that allows us to feel good.
This piece uses graphics and text about how our lungs work, referring to the way that inspiration happens when pressure on the inside of our lungs is higher than the pressure on the outside. This, of course, is a metaphor for pressures in life. When we have too much pressure pressing in from around us, it is so difficult to breathe in—to inspire, and to be inspired.
The x-rays are my lungs and teeth, and there is an electro-cardiogram of my heartbeat. Near the teeth, there is also a scientific description of the muscles used to make us smile. This is about understanding how to smile, and how a heart beats, but being unable to experience the joy that makes these actions truly happen.
In one graphic from an anatomy book, the example of a bucket and its handle is used to show the movement of the ribs during inspiration. This is also a metaphor, representing the bucket inside us that must be filled — with whatever it is meant to hold — in order to simply, truly breathe and smile again.
Simplify represents a difficult and painful period of time. The following piece, “Tiny Loops of Time” is visually and conceptually related to this piece, representing somewhat of a resolution after this angst.