Marli Davis is a multicultural, interdisciplinary artist exploring the coalescence of art, science, spirituality and heritage. Her research-intensive practice habitually abstracts scientific ideologies to intimately conduct art-making, through strategical phases. Ritualistic, laboratory experimentation informs her sculptural rehabilitations of cultural specimens. Accompanying didactic classification records the dissection, modification and preservation of hauntological memorabilia within her ancestral home.

These investigative methods recollect Marli’s fragmented Japanese heritage; personifying selfhood within a discourse amongst deceased ancestors. Assemblage is used to assimilate diasporic lineage by reclaiming displaced artifacts and related narratives, throughout installation and publication.

Marli navigates transgenerational epigenetics and hauntological ontology by anthropomorphizing the realm of loss. Derived from her ghostly kinships; loss is met with cultural autonomy.

ArtConnect asked the winning artists to share with us a glimpse into their creative life to get a sense of their personal inspiration and artistic process.

What are some of the central themes you pursue in your work?

Abjection, Sterility, Cyborgs, Hauntology, Genealogy, Taxonomy, etc. I often utilize the synthesis of varying theoretical and artistic philosophies when investigating introspective notions revolving around the body. The body is prevalent throughout my work; implemented as relatable, interconnected forms that all earthly organisms generate and collectively bear.

How has your art practice developed over time?

Art has always been prevalent in my life; providing a safe place, where I go to express and gain a sense of self. I recall my first encounter with paint; as a young girl unravelling rolls of paper along the kitchen floor, using my body to create marks. The sensation of viscous colour between my fingers and toes was one that made me feel alive, and has resonated to this day. I’ve always felt the most authentic when creating, and with that; art slowly became my life’s path.

What drew you to work with your medium/media of choice?

My recent creative process revolves around the domestic; my home, my workspace, my inspiration. Owned by my late grandmother and lived in by many of my deceased ancestors. I find myself intrigued by everyday surroundings. Constantly reminded of ghosts when interacting with their residual possessions; forgotten cultural objects, photos, archives and scriptures. I’m an excavator of archival memorabilia in this space, uncovering erased histories and formulating new relationships with a lineage I thought I understood. I rehabilitate the objects in my home, treating them as specimens that hold vital pieces of the lineage I’m trying to transcribe in my work.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an artist?

Some challenges I’ve faced as an artist in this last year of social isolation are similar to those of my peers and professors. Collectively realizing the importance of community. The disconnect from physical connectivity, communal studios/galleries and classrooms presented challenges for all. Although, I do feel a particular resurgence of resilience this year, one I’m happy to be a part of. I have learnt that challenges will always present themselves, but my community has taught me passion will also prevail.

What does your creative process look like?

What has constantly motivated me to create; is the knowledge I gain along the way. Whether it’s from the peers I meet, the materials I use, or the research I conduct, I am always learning. The art world has taught me how to listen, be open-minded and embrace change.

Describe a typical day in the studio/wherever you make your work.

I’ve compartmentalized my home into different areas; for sleeping, living and working. My studio is amongst my favorite spaces in the house. I collect items from inside/outside that fascinate me and bring them upstairs to research, investigate, question and transform. Preservative liquid, plaster, wax, rice-paper, paint, borax, gelatin, latex, silicone, fabric, hardware, resin, plastic, glass, agar, organic-matter and many others contribute to this analytical pursuit.

What are you currently working on or what's next?

Moving forward; research will continue to inform my inherited ghosts, working towards manifesting the cultural-histories lost with the passing of ancestors. I feel inspired and intrigued to further analyze displacement, within my multicultural identity; being black, white and asian. I started with my Japanese background due to being relocated to this ancestral home, and I’m now eager to research and learn more about all of my heritages. By tracing the origins of their missing pieces in my life.

How does it feel to be selected as an ArtConnect Artist to Watch?

I feel quite privileged and excited to be recognized by ArtConnect, because I know all emerging artists coming out of undergrad worked very hard this year. So I’m deeply grateful and humbled to have my efforts acknowledged by such an influential platform. I am accepting this honour on behalf of all my communal support systems, who I couldn’t have gone without. They contributed large parts to my successes this year, and I’m extremely thankful for that.

See more of Marli Davis’ work

ArtConnect Profile | Portfolio | Instagram