Danielle LaCasse
My work embodies my interest in physical labor, traditional craft with contemporary application and our relationships with our bodies. In my most recent project, “Belly Spaces” I have created immersive printstallations which place a viewer directly inside of the female body. My heavy interest in both feminist and craft theory encourages me to apply my materials in a way that challenges their expected use and keep my hand busy and present in the work. To create my most recent installation I have printed 60 yards of fabric which have been burned, torn, latticed, and sewn back together to create a gut like space, with flaking tissues and fibers drooping and falling to the floor.
The installations engage the viewer with their density of mark making and both abstract and narrative elements. The images and textures, drawn from medical science and animal mythology are meant to remind a viewer that our perspectives must always be flexible and ready to incorporate new ideas and associations. The work aims to force the viewer to consider the specific conditions of their body and the bodies of those around them, as not all human experiences can be read on the surface of our skin.