eve lanik

My work explains the aspects of myself that I can not express with words; my experience with myself and the world around me. The inner spaces and turmoil that is not visible to the naked eye. This turmoil is created by both myself and the world that surrounds me. Female figures are a recurring subject within my work. Most commonly, the female that I depict is myself. By using myself as the subject, I hope to foster a more direct communication with the viewer. I see bedrooms as a gateway into peoples mind. The way that people arrange, what their room contains, and the state of their room can say a lot about what is going on inside of them. For me, my room is a direct indicator of my mental health. At best, my room is clean and appealing to the eye, at worst, my room is a trail of my slow decline back into a depressive state. When in this state my room is trailed with quickly forgotten actions and rushed movements; a sad escape. My recent works, such as “Drained” are exploring the “ideal” body and the power this term holds. Using a “cookie cutter” I cut down several women’s bodies to the “idealized” dimensions. The scraps left over are found scattered below these women just as the water is found in the bucket below. Without that bucket the sink would not work just as without the women's bodies intact they would not properly work. I use household materials and found objects within my work because these are items are intimate, most people are familiar with them so they can connect with the work on a personal level. I then create a comparison with the imagery I choose to display with these objects. Plaster cast is another material I often use within my work. I work with plaster cast because I see it as a second skin or a shadow of myself; reflective of my form. This makes my work personal and easier to work with for I do not feel that I am objectifying anyone other than myself.