Biography
Escaping the monotonous and melancholy perceptions of the every day can be exceedingly difficult when ensnared by the grey stare of urban life. Despite our bustling cities, and web of interconnected online networks, there is an inherent loneliness in today’s existence. Stress, anxiety, depression; these feelings become seemingly inevitable as we continue isolating ourselves from any meaningful connection to our surroundings. Humanity is a part of nature as much as the whales and worms, yet somewhere in our evolutionary path, we have regressed to a state of being that lacks harmony. Surrounded by concrete blocks and glowing screens, with an unwavering pressure to work more and sleep less, the soul yearns for that primordial connection.
In an attempt to reconcile with her anxieties, Gutfreund’s work presents the formulation of an intoxicating place that is reminiscent of the wild and boundless realms within dreams and nightmares; an untamed macrocosm that is welcoming, bewitching, and disturbing. Touches of unsettling strangeness are included throughout Gutfreund's work, as a recognition of the human condition and its duality. Like a mirror to our own psyche, these worlds can be as sorrowful, disturbed, and absurd as they are beautiful. The imagery often creates a sense of tension or discomfort, forcing viewers into a space that is both enticing and uncannily off putting. Gutfreund looks at nature as her main visual source when constructing the elements in her works. It is an invitation to relish in the complex forms and textures we often see in the flora and fauna around us. Viewers are met with characters that bear a certain resemblance to life forms found here on earth, evoking a sense of familiarity within an unfamiliar environment. Narratives between the characters within her works are palpable, and tend to stretch on throughout a series of several pieces and mediums.
Formally, Gutfreund adds an abundance of details and textures so that viewers may get lost in the painstaking intricacies of the pieces. Gemstones, hair, insects, glitter, found objects, and other unconventional materials find their way into her work, cohesively adding to the visual complexity of the imagery through trompe-l’oeil techniques. Elements of kitsch have a strong presence within Gutfreund's work. She maintains an ongoing exploration of visual language and materials, whose value have often been questioned in the sphere of fine art institutions.