Karissa-May Miller

Inspired by the everyday objects and things we take for granted and throw away, a connection and sympathy are born in Karissa. We as people are constantly moving, looking for something ‘better’ and ‘newer’, it’s an endless cycle that’s never quite satisfied and is something we are accustomed to. It has become second nature living in a consumerism-driven world to always want more. Its only when we stop and really look around at what we have that we realize how dependent we have become on things that in the bigger picture are not that important.

The recent loss of a close family member and the experience of cleaning out a house full of objects tied with memories is what kickstarted this exhibition for Karissa. Not being able to throw them away, these everyday household objects took on a new purpose, a new life. Challenging the boundaries of reality, letting us see objects as more than just material, more than just to fulfil our needs and then be cast aside. Karissa fuses parts of the body with these objects and flips the original intent in the primary function in rebellion. 

Karissa uses abjection and the uncanny valley hypothesis to create this conflict of disgust and interest, evoking an emotional response in the viewer, creating a breakdown in meaning that challenges what we think we know. Karissa's main goal in her art is to show an alternative way of seeing things. This exhibition focuses on showing this through sculpture/ installation, printmaking and video.