(Desire)Path
A desire path is one that is chosen, not one that is given. It is a route shaped by repeated movement, instinct, and necessity. Bricks, both symbolic and literal building blocks, form the foundations of many structures, relying on one another to serve their purpose. Brick structures and desire paths are both built over time, through repetitive actions. In this way, bricks and desire paths embody the act of choosing a direction and sticking to it.
I use bricks to explore the necessity of rebuilding in the wake of loss. Rebuilding, however, is not just about laying new foundations in place of the old. It is about making the deliberate choice to be uncomfortable and engage with the unfamiliar, in an ongoing effort to evolve. When you hold your grief too closely, you end up constantly reliving it rather than processing it. I have come to acknowledge the necessity of letting go to move forward.
In this work, I have laid out a path of copper-clad paper bricks. I invite viewers to walk on this path. Through this interaction, the work is gradually worn down, altered, and potentially destroyed. The paper and copper retain the memory of the experience, bearing the marks of each step, crease, and shift over time—evidence of both action and change. Framing this installation are two sculptures—each one half of a broken chain link. These forms act as silent witnesses, marking the threshold of the journey. They serve as both a beginning and an end, bookending a space where grief is made visible.
