ABOUT KIA MAY...

Kia May is a multi-media artist based in Wolverhampton. Their practice has explored a depth of social themes, whose work currently focuses on 'childhood', 'the inner child' - and specifically the death of the inner child. Through the use of sculpture, installation and distortion, they are able to create manifestations of the mental challenges and trauma which affects the transition from childhood to adulthood.

They take into consideration the psychological coping mechanisms commonly seen in children, and how trauma and pivotal moments of a person’s childhood affect the recollection of their memories. Interested in the concept of children's anthropomorphism of inanimate objects, they use these soft toys, blankets and toy stuffing to evoke a sense of empathy from the viewer and also catalyse an inquiry into the stories behind these objects and why they are now presented in this grotesque yet wistful manner. This contributes to May’s captivation of the concept of ‘mono no aware’, an important term in Japanese culture, roughly translating to a bitter and melancholic awareness that everything in existence is only temporary and an empathy towards things. Though the visual imagery of toys remains a constant throughout their practice, they also adopt other means of nostalgic mediation, such as photographs and audio within their work.

Although the project resonates profoundly with May’s own personal experiences, they also draw inspiration from story-telling, poetry, musical lyricism and cinematography to create an experience for the viewer in which they do not feel like an outsider, but a participant (whether a reflection of their own or others experiences) in the exploration of the mental development from childhood to adulthood. May aims to evoke a melancholic response from how these objects commonly associated with comfort and security are presented in a disturbing juxtaposition of comforting and unnerving, whilst also reminiscing/questioning the experiences of the progression from childhood to adulthood… and what monsters they create.

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