In my current artwork I explore drug addiction and its effect on individuals, families, and communities. Most of this investigation has been through biographical videos which document conversations between my brother and me. The figure is absent in my installations, which become immersive environments, where the viewer is the figure. When I ponder absence, I think of it in the physical and emotion sense. When a person is under the influence, it creates an illusion, where that person looks like the same being, but acts and reacts in a different manner. Physical absence is just as difficult because communication is nonexistent. Throughout my creative process, I think of the guilt that I feel for not seeing my brother’s addiction and the guilt he feels for having an addiction. I also consider the concept of judgment. When a person has a drug addiction, they immediately are judged. Older generations tend to be more judgmental and have difficulty discussing issues in public. My art investigates the judgment, reactions, and outcomes of addiction. I also portray the nature of relationships and the changes that occur through addiction where roles become reversed. I want to start a conversation and explore these concepts further in hopes of bringing awareness and a solution.