"Revival" by Davana Wilkins

Taking inspiration from syfi-novels and pseudo-science, Davana Wilkins uses her artwork to explore the nature of consciousness among both sentient beings and physical objects. Through the trasference of spirit, energy and essence, her forms comment on the notion that life is more than just an interaction of physical material, but an amalgamation of conscious thought.

This solo-exhibition uses breath as a way to talk about the conversion of energy. In Revival, Wilkins’ brother’s breathing patterns as he speaks in tongues are used to animate an organic form. While this piece demonstrates the vigorous movement of the body, breath and spirit, Anaerobic instead explores the slow exhale. In an effort to capture her grandmother’s fading essence, the artist collected her breath into tanks, then slowly released the air into clear seedpod forms. Eventually the air will leak from these forms, dissipating her grandmother’s essence into its surroundings.

Biography
Davana Wilkins is a sculpture living in Syracuse, NY. She received a B.A. from Southeastern Louisana University and an M.F.A. from Syracuse University. She has participated in residencies at Weissensee School of Art (Berlin, Germany) and Kimmel Harding Nelson (Nebraska City, NE). Numberous awards include the Albert K. Murray Grant, the Gail Hood Endowed Scholarship and a Creative Opportunity Grant. Her work has been shown in several group exhibitions including Transitive Flux (Syracuse, NY), Modus Operandi (Berlin, Germay), While in Class (Chicago, IL) and a recent solo exhibition at Thompson’s Point (Portland, ME).

davanawilkins.com