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The Reach of Time
Cabien Nelson
Clay, wire, wood base, 10 x 5.5 in.
This ceramic sculpture explores the tension between ambition and the relentless passage of time. Two distinct platforms—one rough and chaotic, the other smooth and serene—represent the journey from “zero progress” to musical mastery. A faceless figure, inspired by the anonymity of Albert György’s Melancholy, remains trapped on the jagged starting point.
The man’s unfinished lower half symbolizes his inability to move toward his goals, while a massive hand—inspired by Lorenzo Quinn’s monumental sculptures—reaches from behind to represent time catching up. Reflecting the contemplative stasis of Rodin’s The Thinker, the work captures the tragedy of a passion for music stalled by hesitation.
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The Sound of Unity
Cabien Nelson
Traditional pencil, pen, and marker, 9 x 12 in., 2 pieces
This two-panel work explores the sacred connection between the Aina (land) and the Hawaiian people through the interpretation of petroglyphs and enata. One panel depicts a couple and intertwined trees—rendered in contrasting tones to symbolize balance—while the second reveals a cave where these forms transform into traditional symbols.
Bridging my theme of music with indigenous storytelling, a figure plays the ukulele, sending sound waves that unite the two scenes. By blending realistic textures, like “yarn-weaved” water, with symbolic line work, I illustrate how music and ancestral protection harmonize the physical and spiritual worlds.
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The Noises That Kill
Cabien Nelson
Traditional pencil, pen, and marker, 9 x 12 in., 2 pieces
Inspired by the intricate compositions of Albrecht Dürer and the environmental conflicts in Hokusai’s woodblocks, this dual-panel graphic work explores “noise pollution” as a modern threat. One panel features a chaotic collage of man-made sound—cars, speakers, and explosions—rendered in bold colors.
The adjacent panel depicts the aftermath: a desaturated “Mother Nature” where animals and human ears bleed, symbolizing the draining of life from sensory overload. By inverting text and mirroring elements across both sheets, I create a perspective-shifting narrative that highlights the destructive impact of industrial sound on the natural world.
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Memento Mori Interpreted
Cabien Nelson
Traditional pencil, pen, and marker, 9 x 12 in., 2 pieces
Exploring the intersection of music and visual identity, this “interpretive self-portrait” reimagines Buck-Tick’s Memento Mori album cover through a Visual Kei lens. By blending the original skull imagery with the structured storytelling of Inio Asano’s manga panels, I illustrate how my mind deconstructs and recreates art.
The piece features a skeletal figure engulfed in vibrant, complementary red and green fire and flora, symbolizing the “explosion of sound” within the album. This transition from the original icon to a fully realized character captures my creative process, turning a musical influence into a personal narrative of gothic, punk-inspired transformation.