Artist's Statement:
I consider the human body a biological statement that includes intricate structure and complex diversity. It is a holder of experiences: private, public and social. I see the body as a landscape of cells, forming organs that form systems. I find it beautiful and poetic. As I move from shape-to-shape and work-to-work, I find myself searching deep within the nooks and crannies. Where is its source? Is there a narrative? On occasion, I break from the human to explore other life. I study and paint insects and animals. I am curious about their anatomy. More recent, I took to plants and plant cells. My attention landed on the iconic Saguaro cactus here in the Sonoran Desert; learning about its anatomy and physiology as well as its ecology. In my studio, art books sit next to science and medical books that sit next to philosophy books. Both the arts and the sciences include keen observation, study and practice, research and experimentation. I work to connect them in a creative and personal way. I’ve discovered that I like taking things apart and bringing them back together, on paper and/or on canvas. In a nutshell, I study life. Nothing in stasis.
Monica Aissa Martinez - Phoenix, Arizona 2024
