Beyond the Woods

2024

Oil paint and Video overlay

Featured Dancer: Sarah Guilanti

This piece is a deeply personal embodiment of fear, and to be blunt, rooted in my complex relationship with food and eating. For as long as I can remember, food has been a fraught subject—necessary for survival yet treated as something to avoid. This contradiction shapes the work, represented as a forest of trees (forks), eerie yet vibrant, embodying a hyper-present dreamlike landscape.

At its center is a girl, smiling and dancing between the "trees" (crafted from forks), gracefully navigating her journey and lived experiences. Despite the painful memories tied to this theme, I sought to create a scene that feels hopeful—a counterbalance to the darkness. It reflects the universal truth that while we all carry burdens, there is strength in facing them with resilience. Through her movements and composure, the girl embodies a future where struggles are met with courage and grace, her head held high.