Kanbi Projects is delighted to present the second exhibition in its Launchpad series titled Illusion Of The Unconscious in collaboration with artist Bria Fernandes.
Fernandes invites the viewer into an intimate space of discovery, a window to observe the unconscious mind in a monologue with the self; revealing our misconceptions and beliefs and the tension between the 'inner self ' and the 'other self'. The other self in this case being the ego - the sense of self as a coherent, rational actor expressed in the word "I" - which French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan refers to as the illusion of the unconscious, an image of stability and meaning created by the misperception of the relationship between body and self.
Fernandes invites the viewer into an intimate space of discovery, a window to observe the unconscious mind in a monologue with the self; revealing our misconceptions and beliefs and the tension between the 'inner self ' and the 'other self'. The other self in this case being the ego - the sense of self as a coherent, rational actor expressed in the word "I" - which French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan refers to as the illusion of the unconscious, an image of stability and meaning created by the misperception of the relationship between body and self.
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In a era where we define self as the image we see projected in the mirror of social and mainstream media, a misrecognition that is sometimes reinforced by others affirmation, which creates a conscious sense of self, an ideal ego - an imaginary prefect self that has no flaws, no fears, no insecurities or existential concerns.In her works, Fernandes personalizes the interior monologues into melancholic figures, transversing the abyss of the unconscious and the permanence of the physical reality. The figures themselves become the embodiment of thoughts, emotions, wishes, desires and tension that defines the essence of the 'self'; allowing for a lucid contemplation of the 'other'. Asking us to question our motivations, values and ideals, from the mundane "what do I wear today?" Or something as complicated as "where do I fit in ?". And how our responses and reactions to these affects our way of expression in the world and our perception of ourselves.In addition to the interior monlogues, Fernandes also add another dimension, the personal backdrop reflected in the works. The backdrops (home, social spaces, relationships) thus frame the subjectivity of the narratives in her work. These backdrops, associated with different emotional states and psychological encounters provide the settings for the conflicted negotiation of self and the other, oscillating between private and public spaces to evoke the complexity of individual and collective identities.
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WORKS
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IN THE ARTIST'S OWN WORDS
“This series of my work shows a spectrum of moments, locations, and feelings. They are examples of being alone or with "others''. Reflections of these moments are meant to challenge how we see, believe, and think of the real world - it is only through deep reflections of the self that the surroundings and context that we live in develops meaning. Taking these moments for what they are and sitting within them, allows reality and the surreal to merge, distorting each image in a distinct way. I want to confront experiences and how they are perceived to invoke the unrest and anguish that every image possesses even when we’re not aware.”
BRIA FERNANDES -
