MAVA

In The Problems Spin-off, I explore life's recurring cycles and the beauty that can emerge from struggle. This body of work began in 2014, when I started sculpting lollipops, each symbolizing a personal "problem" or moment of adversity. I work with materials such as roofer nails, polymer clay, resin, and textiles to create these pieces, transforming them into vibrant markers of resilience and survival.

Recently, I have introduced a new dimension to The Problems Spin-off by merging my lollipops with painted definitions of hands in various poses. I drill into a wooden canvas, embedding the lollipops and securing them with pulp paper mixed with glue. Each lollipop protrudes from the surface, positioned in front of the painted hands, to create an action between sculpture and painting. This composition invites viewers to look at and through the lollipops, observing the hand shapes and contemplating their layered meanings.

These painted hands are more than aesthetic choices; they represent American Sign Language (ASL), my primary language. Each hand pose conveys different meanings, just as each "problem" or lollipop has its symbolic weight. In sign language, handshapes, motions, and spatial relations build meaning through perspective, inviting interpretation. My lollipops act as both lenses and barriers, challenging viewers to observe and interpret, much like analyzing hand movements to understand their intent or message.

This circular, layered approach speaks to life's ongoing cycles, where we confront familiar challenges from new perspectives, redefining their meaning. The lollipops, each one originally representing a problem, transform into visual. They invite viewers to experience problems as essential elements of our journey, shaping how we see and understand the artwork and our lives. Rather than viewing these obstacles as burdens, I present them as spheres of influence, marks of strength, and reminders of the resilience we gain from facing challenges head-on.

You may notice the particular shape of Mava titled 'The Problems.' Since 2014, he's created over a thousand lollipops using materials ranging from roofer nails to polymer clay, often adorned with acrylic paint or textiles. His experimentation knows the potential, from resin coatings to filament sculptures fashioned with a heat pen, molded plastics, embellishments, and abstract forms. Through his work with 'The Problems,' Mava believes he captures something profound.

But why 'The Problems'? Reflecting on his life, Mava is touched by his many challenges—oppressions, discriminations, crises, rejections, barriers, retaliations, and the list stretches on like chapters in a novel. Yet, he has survived them all, and they've shaped him into who he is today. 'The Problems' symbolize our adversities, whether too many to count or too few to mention. They're not burdens to discard, yet they're challenges to conquer, reflections of our past and emphasize the strength we've grown. So, take a moment to reflect on your own 'problems". How many you've confronted and conquered—and see them not as scars but as marks of beauty?