Victoria "Tori" Hickey

The Toil of Nature and Man

Artist Statement

The permanence and presence of textiles and printmaking throughout history deeply resonate with me as an artist. My work is my way of paying homage to the work of those before me, and to the natural life we have been given on earth.

This exhibition encompasses three large-scale, multi-process pieces with emphasis on visual texture created through print and embellishments. Each piece is the result of a reductive linoleum carving, printed on hand dyed cotton, accompanied by beaded elements, embroidery, and quilting. It is an installation set that flows through the framework of organic shapes.

The first piece sits atop the others, establishing a strong visual entry point of a landscape which begins with a horizon line, soon followed by a mountain range. The second and third pieces follow suit, with the scene quickly morphing into the immersive experience of a waterfall. Though the scene depicts rushing water, there is a found stillness that remains.

My work stems from our human connection to nature and the life around us. The subject choice and methods of creation highlight the toil of nature, the labor of man, and how the two coincide. The work depicts a scene that is visually untouched by the hands of man and industrialization, however, the irony lies within the process of creation — the immense physical labor and toil of man behind its fabrication.

The comfort many find within a handmade, patchwork quilt is visually communicated through the materials, while the peace we often find within the still moments of nature shines through the frozen scenery. The work as a whole invites the audience to find rest and solace in its stillness, while contemplating the relationship between nature and mankind.