TALIA BARNES

"Express yourself," said the poster on the wall of the principal's office. But how? Who am I — and who wants to know? Why am I here? . . . Am I in trouble?

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These questions, which have mystified great philosophers for generations, also motivate my creative pursuit. What, exactly, am I hoping to discover? I have no idea.

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What I do know is that cutting up paper and arranging it into different shapes, taking photographs of mundane objects, drawing comics with a main character just a half-step removed from myself, and writing about the journey all scratch the same pervasive itch: to understand my surroundings and make my findings known to others.

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This drive is not unique to me, but sometimes, my results are, and they help me process my thoughts and explore new avenues of interest.

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My work is iterative and self-referential, subject to endless construction, destruction, re-contextualization and repetition. Like an inside joke with myself, it may or may not be relatable to others: Regardless, I find it amusing.