Edmund Mathews

Region: MFA Annual

People move from place to place for different reasons by chance, instinct, plan, or force. One element that remains constant during these transitions is that people transport objects with them. In my work I create ambiguous narratives that focus on the physical and psychological aspects of migration and displacement. The main subject matter is the container, in the form of crates, boxes, or luggage, and their scale is shifted to underscore their importance. These containers, appropriated from the past, often from patent records, represent remnants of former lives and forecast what the future may hold. They sometimes contain secrets or valuable possessions. The worlds depicted in my work are surreal yet probable; though not necessarily factual or specific, they often resemble familiar places or landscapes.