You Do Not Belong Here

The twisting orange trees of You Do Not Belong Here are inspired by the organic forms and structures of real-life modern playground designs as the industry continues to draw inspiration from nature. The glass pods attached to some of the branches are immediately overtaken by groups that are fortunate enough to form friendships and alliances quickly, leaving stragglers to brave the “outside world” made unpleasant and even hostile by the grotesque, swooping heads of playground monitors that do not always have the children’s best interest at heart. This may or may not be based on my reality in the third grade.

From the series Proposal for Playgrounds

Who you hang out with, the games you play, how you behave, who you ignore or listen to - these are all rules you’ve likely first learned at the playground. These drawings pay tribute to the simple childhood joy of playing, yet acknowledges that as we do so innocently, we are also beginning to grasp complicated concepts that will only grow more pronounced over time, including but not limited to: belonging, exclusion, territorialisation, survival, danger, problem-solving, friendship and rivalry. These musings and reflections on early memories serve as the foundation of my new series Proposals for Playgrounds, where childhood behaviour and dynamics are exemplified by the very intentional design of fantastical playgrounds, or rather, environs.