Kieran Gowan Clarke

"I discovered that if one looks a little closer at this beautiful world, there are always red ants underneath." - David Lynch

My work explores the anxiety and uncomfortable nature that can sometimes be a result of being a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Looking at the way in which a community works in a good way, but how it can also segregate certain members if they do not fit the desired social norms.

My final piece for the MA explores myself as an alternative member of the community. Looking at reference points from my childhood and adult life and how they helped me overcome the feelings I once let control the way in which I thought about myself. Exploring the grotesque, gothic and ideas of abjection to communicate with the viewer how the inner workings of my mind functioned through these anxious moments within my life. The piece is about how to start accepting yourself for who you are and how your individual upbringing shapes the true identity of yourself at this current moment.

Even if you are feeling uncomfortable currently, there is always a way through.