Artwork by Melissa Ergo

I am interested in grey areas; those moments of ambiguity, paradox, and the point where reason and science become irrelevant or insufficient to understanding the essence of a thing. Our universe is at once orderly and mathematical, yet wildly untamed and enigmatic. I am interested in that complexity and insolubility—the veil of mystery that shrouds our understanding of this peculiar existence. A kind of a silent vitality seems to exist within everything, yet it remains mysterious and inaccessible behind that shroud. My work is born out of a mess of unorganized curiosities and frustrations over what it means to be, and the cultivated solitude that breeds a great deal of contemplation and detangling of metaphysical musings.

Graphite on Paper I

Photograph on Photosensitive Silk I

Most of my work is done in darkness by necessity, and the process has become a kind of metaphor for entering that sacred and unknown space behind the veil. I derive particular delight from the volatile nature of my materials and their capacity to consistently surprise me. My process is meditative and intuitive. It is both mercurial and manipulated, requiring a careful cooperation of chance and control. The process has become a kind of ritualistic act as a means of investigation and contemplation. The product is a tally or record of the process.

Graphite on Paper II

Photograph on Photosensitive Silk II

Essentially this is an age-old attempt to glimpse the invisible architectures of our enigmatic existence. The anonymity and ambiguity of these knotted forms necessarily invite a multitude of interpretations and insights. In this sense, I am intrigued by the manner in which a piece of art may take on an unforeseen life of its own and become vulnerable to a host of varying reactions. I am interested in isolating a thoughtful experience for the viewer—a raw encounter with ambiguity that breeds curiosity, surprise and imaginative reflection.

Graphite on Paper III

Photograph on Photosensitive Silk III

Melissa Ergo

Art and Photography, Arts and Culture