Statement
Melissa English Campbell
My work examines the impact that adaptation plays as both a disruptor and constructor. It captures an appetite for decoding and understanding the experience of adaptation both in my nomadic formative years and the daily feminine experiences of balancing life with safety, mothering and caregiving. Embedded in the work is a visual language that has evolved to include woven patterns and painted, abstract figurative compositions.
Weaving is the foundation of my process, providing stability, while painting introduces adaptability and fluidity, continually fed by and disrupted through the weaving. Layering these two mediums creates an opportunity to explore the interplay between chaos and control. Painting onto unbound yarn requires spontaneity and adaptability, reflecting the uncertainty of life, as colors and shapes merge unpredictably in the final woven piece. By embedding chance into the process, I probe the cost of adaptation, as each unpredictable element finds its place in a balance between cohesion and transformation.
This integration of process and art reflects my view of life’s experiences as constantly shifting, never static. I aim to create pieces that invite viewers not only to observe but also to engage actively with the evolving nature of reality. Through the physicality of weaving and the mutable nature of painting a gateway is created to merge the tactile and conceptual, creating a dialogue between the body and mind. Weaving is inherently physical - it is repetitive, rhythmic and deeply tied to touch - yet my focus on geometry and abstraction and optical effects adds a mental layer that challenges perception and interpretation.
This connection between the physical act of creation and psychological impact of the final work mirrors how I navigate embodiment and intellect in my own life. It is a way for me to bridge the tangible world of gender, parenting, geographic migration, and adaptation with a more abstract, internal world of reflection and meaning-making. My work is a way of processing and reconciling those dualities and exploring phases of resilience, personal growth, emotional transitions, and shifts in identity over time.
