Alicia Link

Lives and works in Philadelphia, PA, USA

Artist statement

Paintings, objects, and video, in relationship to one another, offer a multiplicity of interpretations and affects. Ambiguous figurative elements function as flexibly gendered bodies that transform, slump, hug, leak, barf, and physically respond to a range of emotional and environmental stimuli. In the studio, I work on several pieces at once and switch back and forth between media. This results in a simultaneous haptic and optic experience. My work uses fantasy and (dark) humor to explore the relationship between loss, love, and the body. I linger in a space that draws attention to the invisibility of trauma. I often think about collective neglect or avoidance. I think about my late mother, a Polish immigrant. I think about my Babcia (grandmother) who grew up in the small coal mining town, Jaworzno, in Southern Poland and survived both Nazi and Communist occupation. Their experiences cause me to wonder--what are the lasting effects of intergenerational trauma? I’m still unpacking and uncovering these turbulent stories of war, heartache, and disease. Physical distance and a language barrier history leads to story-telling and invention. The work features characters and narratives that invite empathy while serving as proxies for anxiety and personal desire. Through a process of making and play, I make decisions that alter, enhance, or obscure narratives while blurring reality and fantasy. Jovial imagery and craft materials remain superficial while masking and delaying...

Artwork