I cannot exist without you. I cannot exist with you. If I could swallow you whole. If I could become your lungs. I cannot hear you, I am breathing too loud. I cannot see you, but I know your lips are moving.

Marigold Campbell

My work approaches the topic of intimacy from a pessimistic lens. It is a stage where anxiety, obsession, detachment, and pity are played out on the body and mind. It is a spectacle of the dilemma of intimacy. My work examines the body’s ability to describe intimacy and discomfort, specifically how interpersonal relationships impact how the body occupies physical space. In these confidential scenes which tap into moments of vulnerability, the viewer acts as a voyeur. Through exhibiting vulnerable moments, private is made public, and the unseen is made seen.

The large-scale nature of these works allows the viewer to be absorbed into the tense atmospheres, extracting a sense of discomfort. Gestural and fluid brushstrokes evoke the fleeting temporality of each moment, further emphasizing the candid quality of the works. Images that do not depict the human body are used as a supplement to the figure in order to further pull out deep-seated unease. In this way, visceral explorations into biological matter are able to fulfill the role of the body.

My work is the dull ache in the pit of my stomach that I can’t get rid of. It is the need to pee when I am anxious. It is the uncertainty of saying “I love you” for the first time.