Artist: Cassandra K.
Curatorial Rationale:
Cope
A quintessential portion of my artwork has always centered around an ongoing journey. Throughout the different stages of life, there are many different opportunities to change and find unique quirks. In light of this, I wanted to portray a storyline in all my pieces. The incorporation of social media has become both a benefit and a disadvantage as it opens up a lot of new opportunities and heightens insecurities. These realizations create an open-mind, allowing for the beginning of a unique journey. The four main pieces that spark this distinctive journey in cope would be cogitate, opulence, peregrination, and epiphany. In this four-part series, I focused on the portrayal of identity and being open towards new experiences. Using more intricate titles for my compositions, I wanted to utilize the pieces to create a word that plays into my overarching theme. When choosing these compositions, I wanted to ensure that each piece was created with a different medium. Therefore, this demonstrates how this essence of self-acceptance can be seen from all different perspectives.
Through the first stage of the exhibition, it represents the realization of new experiences and emotions. The collection of works that depict that would be parallel lethality and, cogitate. These two pieces describe the beginning of realizing a new direction they are heading. In cogitate, the child hanging from the woman’s waterline sparks the first epiphany as she leaves her childhood behind her. This is then iterated in the following three pieces, augmented reality, opulence, and desire. In these three compositions, it is evident that there is this luxury, a yearning feeling for either a different emotion, object or overall beauty. The general use of a cool palette for the emphasized portions of each piece demonstrates the concept through colour. In augmented reality, the teenager roams the busy streets, feeling a new emotion that she has never investigated before. Unaware of all the support she has around her, the lively environment enlightens and reveals a new beauty to her. This is then emulated in opulence and desire as she discovers new relationships, and the fragility of growing up without proper representation. The isolated model in opulence shows her both the simplicity and ambiguity of how beauty can be interpreted. Hence, I wanted to portray the effect of a storyline progressing and reaching the climax after discovering new opportunities.
The viewer is juxtaposed with a rapid animation following desire. In peregrination, I chose to create an animation that includes elements of movement but with a concrete concept. After exploring these new choices, peregrination depicts the act of quickly discovering herself. Though she may be enclosed and isolated from the world, the warmth exuding from the world shows that she would be accepted. This is seen through the piece, revenant;, as she believes that this is the end of her journey. She believes that her journey would never be complete, assuming that opting out would be the best option. Although, in revenant; the warm palette demonstrates that the world would be accepting of who you choose to evolve into. In juxtaposition to the warm hues from the lamp posts, I contrasted that through the complimentary colour in the woman’s umbrella and the essence of rain. As rain describes rebirth and renewal, it foreshadows her future endeavors. Therefore, the highlights and light distortion shining onto the umbrella would appear as warm, juxtaposed with the reflection from the water droplets.
The final piece in my exhibition would spark the end of the journey. Unlike what the woman perceived would happen, someone reaches out after discovering her troubles. In epiphany, a solemn hand tries to grasp the attention of the woman in sorrow. Igniting the last reaction in the story, cope, it is evident that the story comes full circle. Complementing both the warm and cool palette that is portrayed in the entire gallery, epiphany is able to capitalise on the stylistic approach to an unfinished painting. As it marks the end, the unfinished aesthetic depicts how the story never ends, the white negative space giving voice to the new journeys she can fill in her mind. Though now we can see, the woman will receive support and acceptance from others during her new adventures to find herself.
Artwork 1
parallel lethality
October 18th, 2020
Digital Animation
9 seconds long, 12 fps
Taking inspiration from Aiste Stancikaite and Michelangelo, parallel lethality focuses on the mental struggles due to social media. Utilizing two disjointed videos, this piece portrays the interchangeable struggles between man and woman. Emphasizing the use of a High Renaissance palette with a juxtaposition of animation, it allowed for contrasting features to align in one composition. Hence, this helps with communication of a shared struggle as both figures navigate their way through life.
Artwork 2
cogitate
November 24th, 2020
Coloured Pencils on Watercolour Paper
35.56 x 50.8 cm
We never question our future in our elementary years. Never gave much thought to what our realistic job would be. What if we did? Inspired by Vince Okerman, cogitate portrays the enlightenment of a small child peering into subsequent events. There is emphasis towards the child, as she climbs to see the adult perspective. Consequently, she is faced with a more subdued palette, emphasizing the cool hues in the woman’s eye. All colour is struck from her face as she feels emotionless, lost, dejected.
Artwork 3
augmented reality
May 27th, 2020
Digital Painting
72.75 x 86 cm
Inspired by Salvador Dali and Dimitra Milan, augmented reality depicts a surrealistic perspective of a teenager’s mind. With age comes realizations, personal quirks that are shared with time. In this piece, the essence of identity pours out as the foreground and background are equally emphasized. Hence showing how the woman and the outside world have similar ideals. Though, the surrealist perspective deceives her into believing it is a hoax, due to her own insecurities and fears.
Artwork 4
opulence
December 6th, 2019
Clay and Acrylic Paint
12.5 x 5 x 23 cm
Inspired by Johnson Tsang, opulence explores the fluidity of beauty. This is emulated through the contrast of the cool-toned butterfly perched upon the warm toned hand and golden liquid. It depicts the essence of beauty not only in contrasting palettes but how harmonious and reflective it is. This piece references opinions, preferences and interests. It is evident that there are fascinating and alluring relationships between concepts that are not tangible.
Artwork 5
desire
April 20th, 2020
Digital Animation
12 seconds, 14 fps
Inspired by the animation, In a Heartbeat, I depict the everlasting effect of unrequited love on a person’s reality. Both romantic and platonic, the realization of an experience she lacks. The cool hues of the animated scene juxtaposed with the warm palette of the lady’s face displays her emotions on the surface. Although, in her mind, the darker, cold hues appear even if they are not visible to the public. Watching the experiences others endure, she is envious, as she yearns for the same love.
Artwork 6
peregrination
February 1st, 2021
Digital Animation
1 second long, 15 fps
Tearing the past to make room for the future. Though the rip is quick and sudden, peregrination demonstrates how your personality, life and opportunities can change in a blink of an eye. We all go through a drastic change in adolescence after reflecting on our past. This tiresome journey is encapsulated by this piece through the action of change. Hence, the rhythm and motion of this piece depicts the gratifying reward at the end of this journey. With this tear, begins the new chapter.
Artwork 7
revenant;
March 17th, 2021
Digital Painting
40.64 x 54.18 cm
Inspired by Gustave Caillebotte, revenant; depicts the storm that occurs during this treacherous journey. During gloomy nights, she wonders if she should continue or if it is the end. To become a ghost, slipping away from all of her friends and responsibilities. The darkness that envelops the painting depicts the feeling of being isolated. Complemented with the warm palette, it displays how the world is comforting her even though she fails to realize this.
Artwork 8
epiphany
February 3rd, 2020
Oil and Acrylic Paint on Wooden Board
122 x 4 x 92 cm
Inspired by Michelangelo and Colin Chillag, epiphany depicts a woman experiencing an idiosyncratic feeling. As mental health is a very apparent occurence in the world, transparency should be more prominent. She receives her first action of help with the hand reaching out. The use of contrasting colours and the string of words wrapping around both figures depict realization and acceptance of life changes. Though the journey was tiresome and caused restless nights, it was worthwhile.