Artistic Statement

Artistic Statement

I define my style of work as "social surrealism" because I use surrealism to explore my conception of contemporary society. If asked to choose a specific genre, I'll often call my work "folk horror," because there's an element of ritual, folklore and fabulism to most of my plays. I like to play with dream logic, bizarre simulacra and body horror. I'm drawn to stories that have an element of the grotesque to them, but also tenderness. Heightened theatricality, obsession. Life on the fringe of society. Time that folds in on itself. Worlds within worlds, liminal spaces. My biggest artistic influences include:

- Fantastika and fairy tale films from Soviet-occupied countries in the 60s-70s
- Dance theater, physical theater and new wave circus companies like Peeping Tom, Frantic Assembly, Circa, Compagnie 111
- Powell and Pressburger films
- Netherlandish Renaissance Art
- The Lithuanian fables and folk music I was taught as a child