As an artist (and novice anthropologist), the activity of travel, exploring the cultural and geographical array offered by new and unique places, thoroughly influences both my art and my life.  The META Series recalls up my past memories of travel to countries with ancient cultures, including China, Cambodia, Burma, Egypt, and Easter Island.   As I researched and learned about the art and underlying inspirations and belief systems of these countries, I discovered similar themes and applications in terms of symbols and approaches found in other cultures.  These shared visual signifiers provided me meaning and understanding of these ancient originating societies, without the use of verbal language.  And as a result, my travels have allowed me to delve deeper into a culture’s visual history and permitted me a revelatory awareness of place and purpose. These experiences inform my personal artwork, which often references and /or includes universal hybrids.

Meta, like the definition it implies, explores the idea of alteration, transposition, and transcending.  Each of the sculptures in this series incorporates the concept of mapping of time and occurrence, and my longstanding fascination with the relationship of scientific and sacred motifs and writings.   Many of the works have been inspired by unrelated phenomena as diverse as Incan Quipus and String Theory, creating unique, hybrid sculptural forms.

Rebecca Kamen