Restless Symmetries features constructed photographs that explore aspects of kitsch, drawing inspiration from the visual symbolism seen in 17th-century Memento Mori and Vanitas paintings. Van Patten’s work undergoes a series of transformations – from being initially photographed to being cut, taped to the wall, rephotographed, and digitally altered. Her process reflects cycles of change, presenting a perpetual unfolding and a continuous state of suspense. It aims to both acknowledge and question the connections between the natural world and the artificial realm of kitsch.