Recollection

October 1, 2024 - January 3, 2025

In this series, Sarah Irvin creates artwork by writing cursive words and phrases on smooth, non-absorbent Yupo paper with colored ink. She then uses a squeegee to blur the text, making them illegible. This process causes the ink to spread, forming an entirely new composition. The resulting marks are remnants of the original writing, but their meaning has been confused and hidden. The text includes phrases and words from her daughter's early speech and budding language skills, as well as personal memories of her grandfather's struggle with Alzheimer's disease. This series aims to depict the acquisition and potential loss of language.

Irvin delves into visualizing thought, pondering the limitations of words as symbols. She perceives the obscured text as a metaphor for memory, reflecting both the capabilities and constraints of the mind, as well as the dual nature of language's power and shortcomings. Irvin is fascinated by the idea of observing internal processes and crafting a visual depiction of the hidden or unseen.

Sarah Irvin earned her MFA from George Mason University and a BFA from the University of Georgia. Irvin is the founder of the Artist Parent Index, a searchable database of artists who create work about their experiences with reproduction and childcare. She resides in Richmond, Virginia.

Sarah Irvin, Splice, 2016, 31.75" x 45.25"