Toilet paper, once called "therapeutic paper," and now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, hoarded and scarce, has always been valuable to me since I discovered crocheting would calm me down during my panic attacks and mental breakdowns. I create installations and sculptures, often featuring crocheted toilet paper, that elucidate the mind of the emotionally unstable while exposing the human body. I also create human body hybrids, sometimes combining them with other parts of the body or with taxidermy animals as a means of connecting humans with their animalistic consciousness. My work is figural, whether the body is literally in the work or implied through craftsmanship. The internal struggle to turn away in disgust or stare in shock is evoked. I focus on the human response to reject the grotesque or to stare at the beauty of the human body and behavior. I do this to denounce the degrading stigma our culture has created around our bodies and mental health. The relationship between hybrid sculptures and crocheted toilet paper creates a chaotic environment in which they can co-exist.

website: courtneybernardo.com