Deborah Perlman

STATEMENT

ENTER A WORLD SOMEWHERE BETWEEN REAL AND IMAGINED

I create bas relief collages, made of archival paper and adhesive, that depict an ‘almost-but-not-quite-real’ world somewhere between authentic and imagined. I cut, score, and adhere the pieces onto the surface, building and lifting certain elements to emphasize the spatial dynamics of the piece. It thrills me to juxtapose semi-realistic forms and shapes, highlighting their points of contact and the shadows they cast.

Impacting my work are 19th and 20th century African sculpture, as well as the Constructivism, Geometric Abstraction and Cubism (Picasso, Braque, Lipschitz) art movements. Artist Giorgio de Chirico was a major influence with his ‘illogical perspective’ works, as well as Joseph Cornell’s shadow boxes and the metal reliefs of Frank Stella.

My art echoes my experience over the years, which has taught me that life is never what you expect it to be. I celebrate this ambiguity, and explore my take on reality, always questioning previous ideas and established thoughts.

I invite you to explore my imagined world. Like me, I believe you’ll find a story in each piece and find yourself in a space that compels you to consider this:
• Where is it?
• What is it?
• What do you see?
• What do you feel?
• Are you in it, or not?

Go ahead, glimpse into my interpreted world and discover where you find yourself.…