Liminal Beings
Heather Cornelius
Sherry Ying Ruden
February 2024
Liminal Beings, Heather Cornelius
I have developed this body of work entitled “Liminal Beings” over the past decade. This series may visually read like a story that transports the viewer into the unconscious place where familiar faces are transformed into beings that accompany the protagonist along the road to self-discovery.
Much of my work is inspired by relationships with those around me manifested through dreams or experiences. Each piece is an exploration of a personal relationship with others who have played a significant role in my life. These explorations allow me to discover deeper awareness of our stories. Since childhood I have been fascinated with folklore, mythology, or any old wives' tale that imparts a lesson. My titles are used as a tool to grant the viewer access into my experiences by suggesting the character or role the sculpture may have. For instance “Crone” embodies the wise old woman. This sculpture is an archetypal figure offering guidance, strength, and a deep sense of insight. She bears the deep lines and signs of age that implicate her past. In contrast, “Virile” is a representation of strength, potency, and health. She is an exploration of a balance between masculine strength and feminine beauty according to my aesthetic. These sculptures are granting you access into my experiences which are visual representations of my personal mythology. I continue to explore the foundations of my subjects hoping to capture aspects of the human condition.Our memories help form who we presently are. We are our stories. Collective mythology. Evolving as we are telling and retelling our stories.
I have developed this body of work entitled “Liminal Beings” over the past decade. This series may visually read like a story that transports the viewer into the unconscious place where familiar faces are transformed into beings that accompany the protagonist along the road to self-discovery.
Much of my work is inspired by relationships with those around me manifested through dreams or experiences. Each piece is an exploration of a personal relationship with others who have played a significant role in my life. These explorations allow me to discover deeper awareness of our stories. Since childhood I have been fascinated with folklore, mythology, or any old wives' tale that imparts a lesson. My titles are used as a tool to grant the viewer access into my experiences by suggesting the character or role the sculpture may have. For instance “Crone” embodies the wise old woman. This sculpture is an archetypal figure offering guidance, strength, and a deep sense of insight. She bears the deep lines and signs of age that implicate her past. In contrast, “Virile” is a representation of strength, potency, and health. She is an exploration of a balance between masculine strength and feminine beauty according to my aesthetic. These sculptures are granting you access into my experiences which are visual representations of my personal mythology. I continue to explore the foundations of my subjects hoping to capture aspects of the human condition.Our memories help form who we presently are. We are our stories. Collective mythology. Evolving as we are telling and retelling our stories.
Sherry Ying Ruden
A contemporary approach to traditional materials
Sherry, looking to rediscover a simpler way of expressing her artistic ideas. Inspired from her unique experiences of the East and West, she starts from her culture’s root with traditional Chinese rice paper as her “paint” medium - though fragile, it’s surprisingly versatile. She continuously experimenting with different methods - resulting in striking but subtle luminescent outcomes. Unlike traditional Chinese painting with brush and ink, where the artwork is mounted afterwards, She reverses the process by manipulating the material, creating shapes and colors based on the paper’s natural grain and texture while adding mixed media elements along the way. She calls it Zì-Rán 自然, in Chinese this means nature, or the flow of things. The outcome is always uniquely individual, giving the artist complete freedom for endless possibilities to explore.
An Eastern philosophy: The highest form of art is the art of living in the presence.
Sherry, looking to rediscover a simpler way of expressing her artistic ideas. Inspired from her unique experiences of the East and West, she starts from her culture’s root with traditional Chinese rice paper as her “paint” medium - though fragile, it’s surprisingly versatile. She continuously experimenting with different methods - resulting in striking but subtle luminescent outcomes. Unlike traditional Chinese painting with brush and ink, where the artwork is mounted afterwards, She reverses the process by manipulating the material, creating shapes and colors based on the paper’s natural grain and texture while adding mixed media elements along the way. She calls it Zì-Rán 自然, in Chinese this means nature, or the flow of things. The outcome is always uniquely individual, giving the artist complete freedom for endless possibilities to explore.
An Eastern philosophy: The highest form of art is the art of living in the presence.
