Do You Even See Me?, 2024
Ceramics, acrylic paints, chipboard, lights, fasteners, etc
In today’s technologically driven and digitalised world, communication often takes place through social media, leaving little time for direct, face-to-face interactions. This shift has contributed to an increase in self-centred behaviour and a distancing from genuine interpersonal connections. Through my work, I aim to highlight this phenomenon and encourage reflection on the importance of empathy. Face-to-face communication fosters deeper understanding of each other and contributes to a more humane and peaceful society. Another critical issue my work addresses is how an artist can capture and hold the audience’s attention in an age where art must compete within the realm of experiential entertainment. It is no longer sufficient to merely create beautiful works; an artist must engage and resonate with the audience to thrive. Over the last year, I have been fascinated by the eye as both an image and a symbol, and I enjoy exploring the surreal themes it can evoke. My installation centres around the form of the eye. I constructed a darkened room filled with large, eye-like shapes. Some of these “eyeballs” allow viewers to peer inside them. My ambition by setting up the installation this way was to induce in the viewer sensation of being watched by numerous eyes, pushing viewers to wonder whether they really are being observed and judged at every turn, as we often feel when entering a new, unfamiliar space. The installation is designed to provoke reflection on themes of humanity and empathy. It offers multiple layers of interpretation, allowing for introspection where the viewer becomes the observed and vice versa. The deeper meanings and insights derived from the installation largely depend on the viewers’ personal life experiences. In the written portion of my thesis, I delve into why the shape of the eye continues to captivate people and how it has been represented in the works of renowned artists. I also provide a detailed explanation of the concept behind my installation and describe the creation process in depth. The finished artwork is on display at Gallery Pallas, as part of this year’s graduation exhibition of Pallas University of Applied Sciences
More art by this artist
You may also like these
