Ajean Lee Ryan
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Artist Statement
I have always been fascinated with the worlds created within fairytales and folklore. Within what is seemingly a simplistic structure of dichotomies (good and bad, heaven and hell, etc) there lies a dense web of symbolism, moral credos and societal impositions.
My current work investigates the Gothic world within Judeo-Christian fairytales and how these narratives were manipulated from their pagan roots to instill a severe indoctrination of society’s ideals upon children throughout the centuries. As a first generation Korean-American woman I am also interested in fairytales for its Eurocentric cultural conventions and patriarchal narratives.
The environments I create within the drawings stem from a desire to re-write and re-narrate many of the stories I am currently reading to my six year old daughter. As a very important genre for the socialization of children, I am interested in how text and image, especially the ethical choices imparted, create a template of sublimation for young maturing girls.
I currently work with ink and pastel on paper. I am interested in these two materials for their uncontrollable properties. Soft pastels, the kind I work with, are crumbly and messy while the inks tend to pool and get too dark much too quickly. The lack of precision and the struggle for perfection are both a challenge and a gift.