Ted von Heiland Jr. – Artist Statement
My artwork takes a critical view of my emotional and
personal journey involving the loss of my sister, themes of love, the ability
to cope and my own mortality as a disabled veteran. In my work, I deconstruct
and reconstruct these themes and ideas by using bio-mechanical and religious
symbolism to investigate the concepts of resurrection, rebirth, mortality and my
own identity issues as a person of Filipino and German descent.
I combine these themes with mixed media sculptures or
paintings using the human figure as a focal point. Often times, the human
figure is fragmented and infused with technological elements to convey the
mechanization of humanity. I incorporate a variety of organic and inorganic
material into the background of my work juxtaposing dark sci-fi elements with
whimsical, natural and emotional gestures stressing innately human traits. My
stylistic influence stems from a variety of sources such as cinema, music
videos, religious symbolism and iconography, current global events, and mankind’s
long-time obsession with war and post-apocalyptic themes. My emphasis will
always be on the human element, regardless of how disfigured or intrusive the
technological elements become in each piece of artwork I create.
While I incorporate a variety of materials in each of my
projects, my methodology and process is very consistent both thematically and
stylistically. I often work on several pieces at a time and first consider the
overall theme or emotion I wish to convey. I like to keep the narratives in my
work as personal as possible. This, after all, is what drives me as an artist and
my search to continue asking the questions: Can we bring people back? Can we
relive these moments that have brought us both joy and heartache? Will
technology allow us to accomplish these things? Will religion? Do we have the
potential to one day live immortal or are these ideals and ideas forever
fleeting?
