why absurd?

i don't know. 

Why am i interested in absurdism? 

All through my time as an MFA student I struggled to understand what my work is about. i was pulled between working from a idea and working from physical materials, especially fabric, because my interest and involvement in textile design and fiber art is what pushed me to go back to school. Again. For the third time. 

My thesis, which was basically a challenge to our cultural ideas of cloth, never satisfied me as a perspective 

for what my work is about. 

At some point in one of our classes we made a trip to a gallery that was showing work by Philadelphia artist, Thomas Chimes. The exhibit featured his paintings of the late 19th century writer Alfred Jarry. I was familiar with Jarry - having studied theater as an undergrad - as the author of the play Ubu Roi, although I hadn't read it. I further understood the Ubu character through the work of South African artist, William Kentridge.

I really love William Kentridge

I decided to research Alfred Jarry further and instead of actually reading his play, which really would be a very good idea,  I purchased an in-depth biography called "alfred jarry: a pataphysical life" by Alastair Brotchie. I'm still reading it. 

I'm also reading Albert Camus's "myth of sisyphus & other essays" in which he (Camus, not Jarry. Or Brotchie. Or Kentridge) lays out his ideas of absurdism as a philosophy. 

Reading two books at once is not always easy.

Three degrees and a small body of work that emerged from multiple directions later, I think I'm on track for something that unifies the work I've done so far, and gives me a course to follow for my work going forward.

Also, my student loan is really absurd.