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Vita/Mortem is an online group exhibition, exploring the current and ongoing works of Debra Couch, Mikayla Giannini, and ChimChim Daniel (2024). The title, being the latin translation for Life and Death, hints at the connection found through the exhibited works as they explore aspects of the human experience, self, and present critiques on modern-day societal norms; existing in life, and death.
M E E T T H E A R T I S T S:
DEBRA COUCH
Debra Couch’s work is based on connection with living beings, with the environment, and with community. These connections are given expression through the hidden, the mystical, and the invisible. She seeks to uncover the things that institutions and industry purposely conceal, the things we keep hidden from ourselves, and the places that they intersect.
Her work often depicts the frisson, the unexpected thrill, the contradiction, and the spiritual confrontation. She strives to express the purpose and agency of the animals, the trees, and the planet – an agency which humans have denied and ignored for millennia. Debra is currently MFA student at SAIC, with an intended graduation in 2026.
Artist Website:
MIKAYLA GIANNINI
MIKAYLA GIANNINI
Mikayla Giannini is a multimedia artist based in Dallas, TX. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, in Studio Arts with a concentration in Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing (2023). Currently, she is completing her Master of Fine Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL, in their Low-Residency MFA program (class of 2026).
Her practice utilizes small metal works, sculpture and painting to explore ideas surrounding affect theory, body mapping, the male gaze, and societal expectations around beauty and aesthetics of the modern female. With a strong interest and background in science, she allows aspects of biology and the study of psychology to influence the nature of her work.
Inspired by her own personal experiences as well as the human experience of those around her, she pushes her work further through research and reference to current-day, as well as historically significant artists and their practice. These artist include figures such as Hannah Levy, Andy Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein.
Artist Website:
CHIMCHIM DANIEL
CHIMCHIM DANIEL
CHIMCHIM'S experience an artist is one in emergence, learning, and exploration. This experience focuses on dyeing of fabrics through the use of indigo, turmeric, walnut and other plant based dyes available. Materials used are either silk, chiffon, linen or cotton.
The dyeing of silk as painting is inspired/addresses themes of nature, memories, healing, lived experiences, and the water elements. Poetry is used as a tandem to the dyed silk painting.
This is a journey that invites healing through art whilst navigating complex emotions, lived experiences, finding ones voice, comprehension of lived environment to spaces occupied, reflection and contemplation.
Artist Website: Chim's Studio Blog
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