Artist Interview: Maezali Barnett

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

What inspires you? “ My past experiences. For this piece in particular, it was about getting better as I was fighting for my mental health. This piece is full of 3’s because I liked the idea of the trinity – the Nordic knot can represent whatever you want or need it to represent. For me, it meant a connection to the past, the present, and the future. Another sign of 3 is the Sailor’s knot. For people far from home in the Viking age, it was a sign of having something to come home to. That was something that kept me going while I was away from home. The last 3 is the snake eating itself. I feel like this represents the cycle of being healthy (the head) and then eating my own progress until it starts again. It’s the ongoing cycle of restarting, trying, failing, and restarting again. 3’s are all over this piece. The 3 knots overlap and intertwine. The Sailor’s knot is made up of three lines woven together. It’s very representative of my 3 years of getting better.”

Why is making art important to you?”Art has always been my leading life factor. It’s a way for me to express myself- whether it’s dying my hair, drawing, painting, or music.”

What do you want your audience to get out of your work? “I would hope they see what I feel. And I hope they are able to make a connection with what I am saying in their own way.”