Benson, Zachariah ChyanneMy work serves a purpose. I have a desire to build things, as most of my pieces show, to lift people up, to redeem people and to redeem materials. My work captures the aspects of life that I feel need to be highlighted, whether those be hardships, turmoils, conflicts, boldness or civility. Pieces have explored the Syrian refugee crisis, the US/Iraq war, persecution of religious groups, US elections, and faith-based ideas such as Holy Communion and the Ten Commandments. I want my work to inject emotion and possibly even change in my viewer. I have toiled over these aspects of life and society that are concerning, meaningful, or just overwhelming and I want the viewer to have the opportunity to grapple with these ideas as well.enThesisArt criticismEmpathySculpture