Trish Tillman

My work stems from the ethics of hospitality—the relationship between a host and a guest. Hospitality objects such as toiletries, disposable tableware, and objects of celebration clutter our homes. These remnants of daily living eventually amass and structure themselves, becoming a part of our home décor. In response to this phenomenon, I selectively hide and expose objects that are associated with a system of home structure as they apply to ways we both hide and expose our true selves while interacting with our friends, family, and guests. By using discardable materials (paper cups, wrapping paper, decorations) I reveal the temporal and precarious foundation of how we give, a gesture that lies somewhere between desire and guilt. I am influenced by what drives our need to acquire in order to confront the way we receive, drawing connections between our broader systems of value with our own need for acceptance.