The Song I Sang As You Swam Away
A solo presentation by Kate Burke, curated by Jacob O’Kelley
The Song I Sang As You Swam Away contemplates love, resilience, and self-discovery in a world existing between physical and digital realities. By reframing traditional and cultural teachings through a natural, deeply personal lens, these works confront the impacts of environment, technology, and spiritual evolution on the human psyche. Kate Burke’s journey forms the backbone of this narrative, exploring what it means to find purpose, compassion, and contentment in the digital age.
At the heart of this exhibition is the tactile, intentional work of craft and making, using traditional materials such as textiles, ceramics, and beads. These mediums, often labor-intensive and requiring repetitive actions, serve as metaphors for the dedication and introspection that personal growth demands. Childhood memories intertwine with the artist’s reflections on the internet. Together, these seemingly disparate elements - childhood craft, digital culture, and introspective labor - are reimagined to create a contemporary iconography that speaks to both the ephemerality and permanence of the human experience.
In each piece, the materials, carefully sourced and openly documented, invite the viewer into the artist’s world. This transparency in sourcing emphasizes a connection to the origin and journey of each item - a reminder of the significance embedded in the smallest details of creations. Through mosaics, assemblages, and poetic fragments, the works evolve organically, pushing against the notion of a fixed framework and instead celebrating the process of retooling one’s beliefs, emotions, and experiences.
The Song I Sang As You Swam Away offers a space for contemplation - a reminder that evolution, both spiritual and personal, is a continuous journey. Here, the viewer is invited to find solace in the resonance of handcrafted icons and to reflect on the tender balance between retaining oneself and embracing the necessity of change.
