three drafts of the same poem ii

Drew Connor Holland wants his artworks to elicit an emotional response. His artistic practice translates abstract concepts into physical objects that communicate their essence. Holland's curious objects—small paintings and brass sculptures—deliberately confound, with ambiguous origins that encourage speculation. Holland sources imagery from online archives and AI-generated images, interrogating notions of authenticity and value in a saturated visual culture. He embraces technological imperfections and failures, viewing them as inherently human. He documents moments when AI systems fail—such as OpenAI's inability to generate letters of the alphabet—capturing specific moments in machine learning. Holland translates digital images into physical form using low-fidelity materials: handmade paper, salvaged bed sheets, wood, and found objects. He subjects these works to deliberate degradation—staining, varnishing, overpainting—creating a faux aged appearance reminiscent of forgeries, though his works are translations rather than reproductions. His references span Manet, poetry, animation, and personal memory. He is drawn to objects situated in particular times and places, knowing they will eventually become obsolete. By displacing these items from their original context, Holland offers them a second life, imagining what stories they will tell if discovered centuries from now.