Essay

“When striving for poetics within an artistic work, it is important to look for the transcendent moment within the piece.” - Maria Lorena Lehman

Within my studio practice, sculpture creation complements my painting creation process. Within each, I explore questions that yield architectural applications as well as universal interpretations. I find that it is between such latter pursuits that true poetics can be achieved, because when a work of art speaks toward multiple levels of understanding, a ripple effect occurs where form and meaning work together to transcend the artistic artefact.

Asking a Pivotal Question

When striving for poetics within an artistic work – whether for an architectural design, a sculpture, or a painting – it is important to look for the transcendent moment within the piece. At this moment, the piece becomes more than the sum of its parts, and it reaches a level where its interpretations evoke deep thought and emotion. For art and architecture both of these are critical, particularly when creating and designing to beneficially impact those that experience the work.

When creating, I ask the following question of each piece: “How will this move people to become the best version of themselves?”. When exploring the answer to this question for my artistic creations and designs, I find new ideas, I find new ways of seeing what I am creating, and I find new ways to explain the intention within my studio works. Furthermore, by exploring such questions, I am able to tap into what an art piece wants to become. This all builds to the thrilling moment when one’s initial creative vision comes to life.