Isabel Leininger

Artist Statement

For my piece Shredded Memories, I drew inspiration from the healing process and my ever-changing perspective of losing someone to suicide. Directing my emotions and thoughts into printmaking and paper cutting processes, I was able to work through stages of healing and understanding by cutting different mandala patterns and creating a fragmented collection of designs. Other than physically losing my aunt, I can not and do not associate with losing every part of her existence. My experiences with the physical world changed after I lost my aunt, and it was confusing at first, but creating art has helped me open my eyes and embrace all my emotions. My experiences include close interaction with butterflies, hawks, and feathers. The mandalas are the abstract representation of my experiences. Healing mandalas have played an important role in history with the work of Buddhist monks who worked with colored sand to create elaborate and meticulous mandalas. Concentrating on mandalas can help you focus on more abstract emotions and thoughts. One of the most important steps in creating a sand mandala is to destroy it; this helps the monk understand nothing is permanent. The fragmented aspect of this piece is inspired by the truth of ‘nothing is permanent,’ but only continuously changing, transforming, and engaging in the circle of life. I hope viewers can find healing and understanding of their own traumas in the constant battle of impermanence.