BORN TO RUN
2024
Taylor Lee’s immersive installation BORN TO RUN explores the tumultuous journey of marriage and divorce through sculptures housed within a UHaul truck. Drawing from personal experiences and Americana, the work critiques identity, blending nostalgia with disillusionment. Themes of decay, isolation, and the grotesque intersect with the American road trip, representing both hope and nihilism. The installation navigates physical and psychological landscapes, prompting viewers to reflect on the human condition and American identity. Influenced by Jean Baudrillard and John Waters, as well as Western and Southern Gothic literature, Lee challenges conventional art, creating an interactive experience that invites emotional and tactile responses.
In examining marriage's decay and the American Dream’s disillusionment, Lee incorporates elements of vanitas and memento mori, urging contemplation of life's impermanence. The sculptures in the UHaul symbolize the fragility of existence, prompting reflection on mortality. Amidst the wreckage of their marriage, Lee’s queer identity emerges as a poignant thread, adding depth to the narrative of grief, self-discovery, and societal critique. The installation is both a love letter and a eulogy, reflecting on personal relationships and the larger societal forces that shape our lives.
