Renouncing the Web II - Enter Cyberculture
The advent of cyberculture is changing the laws of society as we used to know it. My previous series entitled "Renouncing the Web" was created during a time when there was no internet, no email, no cell phones, no texting, no instant messaging, and no social media as we know it now today.
I feel that there is still validity to the concepts I explored in the original series, but Renouncing the Web II re-explores the interrelation between the personality and the physical appearance of people, in a newer society where there is now literally a "web" of society, albeit a cyber one.
In the 90's everyone was afforded one first impression, generally in-person. Meeting someone for the first time, either one-on-one, or in a group setting, and the equation for how you portrayed yourself was simple; Exterior Appearance + Personality = Impression. Today, we can portray several impressions, occurring simultaneously, thanks to social media and other technological advances since the 90's. In fact, you are forming an impression about me right now, without ever meeting me in person. And in a flash you can add to your subjective perception of me, without me being present, just by typing on your keyboard, scrolling your mouse, or swiping a tablet.
I feel that there is still validity to the concepts I explored in the original series, but Renouncing the Web II re-explores the interrelation between the personality and the physical appearance of people, in a newer society where there is now literally a "web" of society, albeit a cyber one.
In the 90's everyone was afforded one first impression, generally in-person. Meeting someone for the first time, either one-on-one, or in a group setting, and the equation for how you portrayed yourself was simple; Exterior Appearance + Personality = Impression. Today, we can portray several impressions, occurring simultaneously, thanks to social media and other technological advances since the 90's. In fact, you are forming an impression about me right now, without ever meeting me in person. And in a flash you can add to your subjective perception of me, without me being present, just by typing on your keyboard, scrolling your mouse, or swiping a tablet.
Green Carpet Moth, 2011, Oil on Chiffon, Mixed Media Frame
Multiple layers of how we portray ourselves in our culture, across different forms of exposure, is what I try to portray when building the frame for each painting in this series. Each work has three handmade frames constructed out of materials that inspire my conceptual interpretation of the outward appearance of someone very close to me.
The insect painting, by contrast, is meant to portray the core personality of a person; the inner workings of a person's psyche that most people don't get to (or don't want to) explore. I carefully choose a specific insect whose traits can be used as a metaphor for the inner, essential being of that individual. Combining the insect and the three 3-D handmade frames, each artwork is a carefully assembled conceptual portrait of someone whom I know personally.
In today's society (the "Web"), each of us are creating these complex compilations that ultimately get melded together to form new definitions of people that never existed before. Yet, more than ever people are defined by their external impressions only. While in the 90's it was a much simpler concept, I still don't believe the layers of our complicated external appearances should be separated from our Self. Instead, despite the changing times, I stand by my original notion that... "through the conscious merging of the physical and the spiritual we can create our own complete being, free from the sticky predatory laws of society."
I am currently in the process of finishing up several works in this series. I am very excited to begin looking for showing opportunities with this initial grouping. In the meantime, follow the progress of paintings in this series by reading my Blog: Works in Progress!
[This series is ongoing. Please re-visit this site for new or updated works.]
The insect painting, by contrast, is meant to portray the core personality of a person; the inner workings of a person's psyche that most people don't get to (or don't want to) explore. I carefully choose a specific insect whose traits can be used as a metaphor for the inner, essential being of that individual. Combining the insect and the three 3-D handmade frames, each artwork is a carefully assembled conceptual portrait of someone whom I know personally.
In today's society (the "Web"), each of us are creating these complex compilations that ultimately get melded together to form new definitions of people that never existed before. Yet, more than ever people are defined by their external impressions only. While in the 90's it was a much simpler concept, I still don't believe the layers of our complicated external appearances should be separated from our Self. Instead, despite the changing times, I stand by my original notion that... "through the conscious merging of the physical and the spiritual we can create our own complete being, free from the sticky predatory laws of society."
I am currently in the process of finishing up several works in this series. I am very excited to begin looking for showing opportunities with this initial grouping. In the meantime, follow the progress of paintings in this series by reading my Blog: Works in Progress!
[This series is ongoing. Please re-visit this site for new or updated works.]
