” I make figurative sculptures that are reminiscent of dolls. They are personifications of internal struggles that define the human condition. My inspiration comes from personal experiences and those of people I know. Each figure begins as a portrait and then expands to address a more universal theme often having to do with fantasies relating to power, repressed sexuality and violence, feelings of loss and mortality.Each sculpture is sewn and assembled using a combination of natural and synthetic materials such as leather, latex, dried fruit, bones, human hair, fur and pantyhose. Stylistically my work aims to balance the empathetic quality of a handmade object with the surreal aesthetic of theatre and animation.My aim is to capture and suspend, through metaphor, a moment of discovery, a transition between innocence and knowing, or a turning point from which there is no return. My figures often appear to be at once infantile and aging both disconnected and active. They are struggling to make sense of the world and the conflicting messages found within it.” – Melissa Ichiuji
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