Between Presence and Absence
Location
FA-255
Start Date
1-5-2026 12:50 PM
Department
Art + Design
Abstract
My work explores emotional endurance through the lens of faith, empathy, and lived experience. I am deeply affected by the emotions of others, often absorbing their grief, hope, and uncertainty as my own. Over time, this sensitivity has led me to create images that give form to emotional and spiritual states that are difficult to articulate, particularly those shaped by hardship and trust in the unseen. These works draw from Islamic concepts that frame emotional struggle not as weakness, but as a process of resilience and surrender. The human figures in my drawings are often isolated within fractured or uncertain environments, reflecting moments of despair, waiting, or quiet acceptance. These figures are not portraits of specific individuals, but stand-ins for collective experience and represent how people endure suffering inwardly, even when it remains unseen. Working primarily in black charcoal and graphite, I use contrast, texture, and negative space to heighten emotional intensity. Dark, clouded forms and disrupted landscapes evoke heaviness and instability, while areas of openness suggest relief, faith, or divine presence. Borders and containment recur throughout my work as a metaphor for how individuals internalize and compartmentalize emotion, particularly in moments of crisis. Ultimately, my work invites viewers to reflect on the shared emotional and spiritual experiences that connect us. While responses to hardship may differ, the underlying sentiments—patience, grief, hope, and trust—are universal, often carried silently within the body.
Faculty Sponsor
Nate Mathews
Between Presence and Absence
FA-255
My work explores emotional endurance through the lens of faith, empathy, and lived experience. I am deeply affected by the emotions of others, often absorbing their grief, hope, and uncertainty as my own. Over time, this sensitivity has led me to create images that give form to emotional and spiritual states that are difficult to articulate, particularly those shaped by hardship and trust in the unseen. These works draw from Islamic concepts that frame emotional struggle not as weakness, but as a process of resilience and surrender. The human figures in my drawings are often isolated within fractured or uncertain environments, reflecting moments of despair, waiting, or quiet acceptance. These figures are not portraits of specific individuals, but stand-ins for collective experience and represent how people endure suffering inwardly, even when it remains unseen. Working primarily in black charcoal and graphite, I use contrast, texture, and negative space to heighten emotional intensity. Dark, clouded forms and disrupted landscapes evoke heaviness and instability, while areas of openness suggest relief, faith, or divine presence. Borders and containment recur throughout my work as a metaphor for how individuals internalize and compartmentalize emotion, particularly in moments of crisis. Ultimately, my work invites viewers to reflect on the shared emotional and spiritual experiences that connect us. While responses to hardship may differ, the underlying sentiments—patience, grief, hope, and trust—are universal, often carried silently within the body.