Leslie Benson – Sculpture
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.”~ Albert Einstein
About My Creative Process & ArtWork
The Core of my Artistic Process:
When I am creating artwork, magical things happen to my psyche. When I relinquish my attachment to expected outcome, approach things with the child-like curiosity of a beginner’s mind, and simply listen to what is in front of me, the Universe whispers the sweetest things in my ears. Dots connect, stars align, threads are woven together. I begin to feel and to experience that intuitive knowing… that everything is connected.
Concept:
My work utilizes weaving and sacred geometry as a symbolic gesture of creation and interconnectedness. In my early life I suffered tremendsouly under the illusion that life is a series of disconnected fragments- a multitude of things all random, chaotic, and overwhelming. As I’ve grown I find more and more beautiful moments of synchronistic clarity, when I see and feel the truth of Being: that the natural state of all things is one of deep connection, divinity, and inherent perfection- more simply put: Love. There’s a name I have come to lovingly refer to the energy of this work as: Veluna. Roughly translated from Latin it means “from one,” reflecting my belief that while there can be this illusion of separateness, that beneath that everything originates from one Source. I experience this sense of knowing most deeply when I am creating. It is my happy place, one where I feel playful, curious, and alive. It is my fond and humble wish to share that feeling- that place of love and connection- with others.
Getting Technical:
I create sculptural artwork from paper and paper-like materials. My basic process involves cutting a 2-dimensional material into slender strips at specific angles and leaving a “spine” or “base” intact. From there I weave and layer the strips into a multitude of anamorphic, curvy, organic shapes. Most pieces are created from just one continuous sheet of paper. I developed all the techniques myself through many hours of experimentation and following my curiosity.
