Ink monoprint on paper
38 x 56 cm (15 x 22 in) each
Central to this project is an appreciation for the tactile process and cultural significance of knot-making—the feel of rope under tension, the connection between memory and movement, and the intelligence embedded in gesture. Knots are approached as vessels of generational knowledge, integral to practices such as fishing, textiles, and climbing. Beyond their utility, they carry cultural weight, passed down through physical repetition and embodied experience. These qualities inform a series of prints that aim to capture the mental moment of attempting to untangle a knot.
The prints depict "unknots"—simple loops that appear tangled but can, in theory, be mentally unraveled. Presented as visual puzzles, these forms invite prolonged attention and quiet contemplation. Viewers are encouraged to linger, engaging with the image as they might with a memory or a problem—solving it not through logic alone, but through intuition and sustained presence.
Three of the patterns—The Culprit, Goeritz Knot, and A Nasty Unknot—are drawn from academic knot theory, a branch of mathematics focused on the classification and analysis of knots. Others are created through physical experimentation, using twisted string or hairbands held in place by pins on a board.
By combining mathematical structure with material sensitivity, the work explores the intersection of form, function, and perception—suggesting that even the most familiar shapes can reveal new spaces for reflection, memory, and interpretation.