David Drier
Artist Bio
My work explores the intersections of memory, time, and physical space through the destructive and reconstructive process of photographic weaving and plaiting. By slicing photographs- portraits, landscapes, abstracts- and physically interlacing them, I transform flat, singular moments into multi-dimensional, tactile tapestries. These may focus on portraiture, or more abstract designs. Portraits, in this context, become a source of unstable, changing identity. Landscapes become abstract designs. Abstract photos become interlocked, dense designs.
The structural foundation of my process relies on the plaiting and weaving technique. I treat the photograph not as a precious, static document, but as a flexible medium to be deconstructed. Slicing the images disrupts their original narrative, while the act of weaving them back together introduces a new, complex geometry. The canvas provides a rigid, structural anchor, grounding the fluid, malleable paper or fabric strips into a permanent, physical form. Using paintings or photos on canvas allows for a more textured finish. Working with multiple frames creates larger, more complex patterns. Allowing some pieces to have floating elements provides added dimension.
Conceptually, this technique mirrors the fragmented way human beings experience memory. Our minds do not recall past events as seamless, high-definition videos; instead, we piece together shards of visual data, emotions, and passing time. The overlapping layers and shifting perspectives in my woven canvases force the viewer’s eye to move across the surface, actively assembling the image. Through this physical interlacing of imagery, I invite audiences to question the stability of photography as truth and to embrace the beautifully flawed, layered nature of perception. A new, third image is formed, inviting the viewer to engage with the combination of images and design, with a moving focus and changing meanings for each viewer.