Caroline and Rylan were matched to produce a piece of artwork which explored a health condition. Over the past 11 weeks, materials and concepts have been discussed to describe an experience of progressive deafness. 

Artist: Rylan Guthrie

Collaborator: Caroline Swan

“Caroline and I talked of the symbolism in driftwood not belonging in the ocean and back on land being unable to connect to the earth either.

The message I have taken with this piece is representing a feeling of ‘not-belonging’ or the ‘it doesn’t belong’ with the wood, plants in paint, plastic, plants dried on canvas. The driftwood, after soaking in the salt water, is smoothed down, which is almost unnatural for a piece wood. Having drifted to new places, it does not find connection with the new world it was found in. It will always be different and out of place.

Understanding the inability to connect with the Deaf, hearing and even the hearing-loss community is individually different. The rips and plastic represents the foreign objects that ‘don’t belong’ being swept up in the ocean. These represent Caroline’s journey in treating her hearing loss. Having to use plastic medical objects to adapt to a world that does not adapt back. The tearing is the physical pain she experienced and pictures she sent of her inner ear with cracks and scar tissue.” – Rylan Guthrie

See more about Caroline here

See more about Rylan here