Christina Graf

My use of paper as an art material is primarily influenced by the memory of a beloved childhood pet, a Rose Hair Tarantula. I was instantly fascinated the first time I witnessed the spider’s molting process. After each shedding, the spider's old skin was left behind, completely intact – as if there were now two creatures occupying the space. The delicate new shell resembled a frozen remnant of a previous existence. I saw this as a hollow twin, representing both life and death.

Inspired by the idea of molting, I create sculptures using paper, which – in both strength and vulnerability - resembles skin. I tend to use clothing forms, because clothing, like skin, is a vessel that contains an individual's life and personal experience. I use the form of empty clothing to evoke a presence. This presence conveys a feeling, thought or story as if it had been preserved or frozen in time.