A Thread

in

Face and Time

Curatorial Rational

My exhibit explores the idea that our identities are constantly evolving throughout time. Drawing influences from the dynamic world around us, self-identity is subject to perpetual transformation. However, this consistency of personal change and development provides a sense of continuity. It is this internalized process that is much more complex than what may be seenon an external level, that creates a duality within every identity. In this way, my exhibit serves to represent how self-identity becomes guided by a tenacious thread of personal existence, represented in my work through the use of portraiture and surrealism. Each work centralizes around aspects of the internal scope of the mind in both the past, present and unknown. I want mywork to demonstrate intersectionality between all influences of human development, and therefore promote a deeper understanding of self through a feeling of internal reflection and awareness.Styles used in my art take on a dynamic form, influenced by a mix of contemporary artists, as well as surrealists, such as Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe. Guided by an essential idea, my work branches off into their distinct originality of meaning and form. The body is held together by recurring motifs of a guiding timeline, which correlates with the idea of fluidity of time which also serves as a representation of time itself and its indirect presence within the mind. My exhibit begins with a three-dimensional sculpture; created from paper mâché and several decorative elements of collage, yarn, and beads. The use of sculpture within my exhibit conveys the essence of our multidimensionality of consciousness, led by our external response to theenvironment and functions of the cognitive response. I then shifted focus of my mediums into a more two-dimensional form, incorporating acrylic and fiber arts in several works. The use of fiber arts allowed me to build a composition from layering of textiles and detailed embroidery, projecting a tangible depiction of how perception of self is formed from the overlapping ofmemory and emotion. The use of acrylic implores influences of more contemporary and surreal elements, as it can be easily manipulated to depict both realistic and abstract styles. Drawing influence from surrealist painter Frida Kahlo and her work The Two Fridas, I was able to manipulate the acrylic to represent the human form within an unnatural, yet colorful setting in orderto convey variation of ambient sociocultural experiences. Throughout the final stages of my exhibit, my style transcends into a more realistic representation of human form, centralizing around use of graphite on paper to provide more intricate details. This final progression demonstrates the ultimate stages of identity within adulthood, where one can truly take independence of their singularity.The arrangement of my exhibit falls under the central scope of evolution of self, then diverging off into their own related sub-themes. Accordingly, I chose to place More You Than Me as the focal point within the body as a whole. This piece demonstrates the overarching theme of complexities in our environment, and how they can create a dichotomy within our individuality. Additionally, the central placement of this piece corresponds with the development of our identities as a story; drawing from both historical contexts, present experiences, and ambitions for the future. The exhibit begins with the sub-theme of originality. The piece Thread of Time depicts a subject in a childhood state, subject to central psychological development, which then becomes integral in stages of adolescence, continuing into adulthood. By placing this piece as one of the initial works, I am able to preface essential stages of development ofhuman consciousness. Additionally, the use of human form plays a significant role in building a relationship of relatability and understanding between the viewer and my exhibit. The depiction of the body in abstract and realistic forms creates a dynamic representation that allows for a sense of relatability among a diverse group of viewers. I hope that the abstract and surreal nature of many pieces within my exhibit will implore this connectivity while still leaving interpretation of factors that regulate identity open to an original reflection.

Just as the geographical landscape of earth is in a constant change of evolution due to natural processes, so is the presence of memory and the formation of new experiences. This series aims at encapsulating the capabilities of our mind in transporting us into ulterior worlds. When free from the barrier of our physical bodies, the scope of the human imagination becomes limitless.

Dreamer (Set of 3)

2298.1158 cm3

Paper maché, masking tape, mod podge, news paper, magazine paper, yarn, glass beads, feathers

2024

This piece examines the progression of adolescence into maturity. The girl within the painting begins as a young child, dressed in vibrant colors and a beaded necklace that serve as reminiscent motifs from her youth. The inclusion of these elements represents how the world is perceived through a simplistic, childlike perspective that centers around purity of intention. In this way, this piece aims to capture the origin of past memory and the beginnings of one’s identity.

Thread of Time

91.44 cm x 5.08 cm x 30.48 cm

Acrylic on Canvas

2024

The focus of this piece centralized around the burden of futile efforts. Drawing inspiration from Greek Mythology, this piece uses symbolism from the story of the God Ocnus, who became cursed to eternity in Tartarus, weaving an endless rope of straw to escape. The rope however became perpetually consumed by a donkey, a symbol of the perpetual absorption of time. The surreal style projects time as an intangible, looming presence simultaneously fixed within the past, and undefined in the future.

Futile Consciousness

58.4 cm x 50.8 cm

Acrylic on Canvas

2023

Inspired by Frida Kahlo’s Two Fridas, More You Than Me demonstrates the emotional dualism as a result from integrating into an, at times, overwhelmingly complex world. A wide range of colors encapsulates fluctuating emotions and experiences that fade into a monochrome shadow of blue that extends over to the face on the right. The blue shadow demonstrates a loss of identity, and confusion within individualism.

More You Than Me

70 cm x 76.2 cm

Acrylic on Canvas

2023-2024

The forms within this series take on a three-dimensional perspective that parallels that of the human consciousness and its endless depth. The sculpture is composed of three layers that reflect the 3 principal branches of the mind; wakefulness, awareness, and responsiveness. Each of these elements represents the multifaceted nature of our mind and how they consolidate to create a single entity. In this way, the individual pieces are arranged in a way that reveals the structure of the human face.

The Unseen

(Set of 3)

12.7 cm x 5.08 cm x 15.24 cm, 12.7 cm x 10.16 cm x 10.32 cm, 12.7 cm, 10.16 cm, 30.48 cm

Ceramic using high fire glazes

2023

This series draws a parallel between emotional dichotomy and the formation of black holes. A black hole forms when a celestial object collapses into its own weight, leaving a distortion of both space and time. Similarly, this effect of the black hole relates to the influence of intense emotion on time and memory.

Celestial Conscious

12.7 cm x 12.7 cm

Colored pencil, graphite, and watercolor on paper

2023

This piece aims at communicating how emotions warp conception of time and cause fragmentation of memory. Strands converge in the center of the piece, representing a major psychological conflict. The tangled hands represent the subject's ability to control the knot, while not being able to perceive its intricacies. Intense emotion allows us to remain blind-sided to a circumstance, focusing on the direct impact that it may have on oneself.

At the End of the Line

55.8 cm x 40.6

Graphite on Paper

2024

*reference photography utilized image by Anne Demia: Anne Demia Visual Artist - ART. annedemia.com/art. Accessed 10 Dec. 2021.

The construct of the piece represents the theme of vulnerability. The use of the female figure illustrates physical and emotional exposure in a delicate, conscious way. Botanical and natural elements demonstrate the beauty in vulnerability, and embracing identity and individuality. Veins are interchangeable with the form of roots expanding, representing how self expression allows you to grow as a person, and evolve into something more beautiful.

Evolution

69 cm x 40.2 cm

Watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paper Textiles, beads, and glue on burlap

2023

Page updated

Report abuse