Sydney Samele

I am a printmaker and illustrator based in Connecticut. I am currently enrolled
as an undergrad at the Hartford Art School working towards a Bachelors Degree in Printmaking. While my work does include lithographs and intaglio prints, I primarily work in relief with either linocuts or woodcuts.

In my work I address the mythology within culture. Culture is defined as the
symbols created and agreed upon by people according to anthropologist, Clifford Geertz. In other words, people give symbols meaning. Mythology is a part of every person’s respective culture and so it carries meaning. Myths have meaning. My practice takes me all around the world through different people’s perspectives, cultures, and stories. It is both a learning experience and an art making process. I learn, I interpret, I cultivate ideas, and I create. The end result of this exploration is a piece of art.

As of late, I have immersed myself in the myth of the Great Race of the
Chinese Zodiac and have taken on the challenge of revitalizing the world’s most influential flood myths. My obsession with myths stem from my ability to learn through stories, which has led me to many far corners of the earth. In my art making journey I have come across stories that have transcended their origins to create a bigger picture. One example may be how the world was created. Different cultures have different creation myths, yet they all address one vital piece of information, the answer to where we came from. I have found stories repeating themselves and patterns emerging, which lead me to think that although people live separate lives, we are all connected. It is the bigger picture that I seek and I search for it through the eyes of mythology.

Printmaking

2021