1xRUN Thru Interview
Offering by Taylor White
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece, is the original still for sale?
Taylor White: The piece is called ‘Offering,’ and it’s one of a few springboard pieces into my visual exploration of bodies in motion. It evolved from the idea of the phenomenal impact of the human body in space, the dance of the soul and the flow of forms colliding. When using the body as a tool of explosive expression, one dares to take the journey into a territory which requires immense trust, the sacrifice of oneself on the alter of vulnerability. Dance, if done fully and authentically, renders the soul completely raw. Yes! The original along with several studies are available on 1xRUN.
1xRun: Was this piece part of a recent series that you had?
Taylor White: This is the first fully realized piece out of a series of studies I began doing late last year after exploring and testing the limits of my own body in space. I started studying a form of modern dance called Contact Improvisation, and that study has opened me up to a new set of curiosities which I’ve been able to explore both physically in space, and visually on the page. To “dance” on paper has been entirely mind-opening and I’ve tackled it with a renewed spirit.
1xRUN: What materials did you use to create this piece?
Taylor White: The piece was made using acrylic paint on 300gsm paper, with some spray paint for texture. I’ve been playing with the use of fluorescents to give more of a vibrant mood to the images. I had a lot of fun playing around with the blues and reds in this piece, the push and pull of light and shadow and using vibrance and color to direct focus around the planes of the piece.
1xRun: When was the piece created?
Taylor White: I started in December of 2014 as a study with very little regard for how it would turn out. Originally a simple monochromatic exploration, the piece slowly evolved into a visceral journey of opening and self-sacrifice. Three months later, the message became clear.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Taylor White: As previously mentioned I began studying movement arts and dance, and deeply resonated with the boundless potential of the human form, the communication between two moving bodies in physical contact and their combined relationship to the physical laws that govern their motion—gravity, momentum, inertia. The body, in order to open to these sensations, learns to release tension and forsake a certain quality of willfulness to experience the natural flow of movement. To do this requires a certain degree of abandonment, releasing the unwanted thoughts, fears and perceptions to inhabit the space that you occupy with fullness and presence. I initially painted this piece strictly as a movement study, but as things progressed the piece became a beacon image for the journeys and revelations that result from achieving that kind of spiritual freedom. It became about the point of surrender, of sacrifice of the ego and all its trappings. Offering oneself to the flow of nature.
1xRun: How long did the piece take?
Taylor White: Including a brief hiatus while I wasn’t quite sure the direction I wanted to go, it took three months from start to finish.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Taylor White: Other than the inherent uniqueness at having been created by my deft hand, I’d say this piece is one of the first appearances of a female form as the primary focal point in my catalog of work. A sign that my subject matter has evolved.
1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Taylor White: Maybe you’ve related on a deep level to the thought process behind the piece; maybe you’re a dancer, an enthusiast, a spirit seeker, or maybe you just find the piece visually delicious. Either way, I think anyone who brings this piece into their life will be very happy with their decision.
1xRun: Describe the print in one gut reaction word.
Taylor White: Fresh.
1xRun: Where can we find you?
Taylor White: Website – Instagram – Twitter
-1xRUN