Tom Jessen

About the Artist

2021

Recently, I’ve been noticing the objects around me more, especially the things that are normally considered “throwaway” - the detritus of everyday life. Many of these objects— milk jugs, tin cans, fabric scraps— I’ve had in my hands a million times without really paying attention to them. I started putting paint on them, bringing out certain edges or patterns within their form. I found that in doing so it transformed their normal identity. I enjoy this alchemical process, much of it dependent on recognizing these mundane objects out of context. There’s a healthy dose of whimsy and irreverence behind this gesture. “Making” is rooted in the act of play for me.

I see parallels between the systematic approach one uses in making art works and the rules one follows while playing games. This observation has motivated me to employ chance operations in determining the final form of each work, often through the act of playing a game. Some pieces are designed to allow others to take the lead in constructing the forms by playing the game. By allowing others to construct the work my hope is to demystify the art-making process, removing the perception of art as an activity solely for those who possess “talent.” These works can be dismantled and reassembled continuously. Using chance operations insures the work remains fluid, allowing each form to always be different. This process also allows me to minimize my own agency, stay present, and keep the experience mysterious.