Senior Exhibition
Safe Space embodies an idea about feeling comfortable and secure within one’s emotions. Being authentic in a world filled with expectations is something many struggle with. Having a safe space to express emotions is not always an option; thus, this concept was born.
In the past, Arely and Jayla struggled with portraying their authentic selves. As they reflect on the healing process of past experiences, they have learned to grow comfortable with who they are and encourage you to heal with them.
These changes in their mental well-being are reflected in their art in lively and captivating ways as they reevaluate who they are as artists while simultaneously exploring a new array of artistic abilities. This exhibition asks you to join the healing journey and enter their inclusive safe space.
Exhibition essay excerpt, Nikolina Katanic
ESCAPISM
My senior project body of works focuses on escapism. Many people detach from reality based on overwhelming emotions and experiences. Each piece demonstrates different ways people escape reality. My paintings address the ritualistic tactics and emotional traps of avoiding or suppressing strong emotions in hopes that the situation disappears or fixes itself.
Music Serenity
In "Project One: Music Serenity," I explore how people use music to escape their emotions. I have personally experienced this when dealing with overwhelming amounts of emotion. In an attempt to avoid feeling sad, I would listen to upbeat music. However, this approach didn't solve anything, instead, it only delayed the emotions. Eventually, those repressed emotions resurfaced even stronger to the point of no longer having control over them.
The color palette demonstrates the intense experience of having these emotions and trying to escape through music. The blue represents serenity and calmness but also carries an element of fear. The purple represents a different wave of emotion, contrasting with the serenity, symbolizing emotions that should be controlled but are now unknown.
In the foreground, The depicted figure looks relaxed while tornadoes in the background symbolize the storm of emotions that is approaching. Fireflies, which appear in my other pieces as well, serve as a warning to the figure that a storm is coming. The storm can be seen as a negative thing. When you avoid facing your truth, it will eventually catch up to you. If you don't address your emotions, soon they will gain control over you. Denying your true feelings will only make them grow stronger and overwhelm you when you least expect it.
The large-scale work invites viewers to explore an expansive space of serenity and impending doom. The Landscape depicts calm and turbulent elements that reflect my creative process of planning and reacting to my pieces. The painting seems to be playing a tug of war at the viewers' emotions.
Too Much Fun…
"Too much fun," is based on my experience as a college student. I've noticed that one-way students tend to escape reality and drown their feelings is by partying too hard. There have been several occasions where someone I've known has consumed excessive amounts of alcohol and ended up feeling terrible.
To capture this moment from a colorful and distorted point of view. During this state, everything feels chaotic and nonsensical, yet there's still a sense of enjoyment and a lack of processing emotions. An individual can feel as if they’re on autopilot mode floating around.
The painting in its completed form portrays the feeling of a spiral movement. The vibrant colors, somewhat proportioned accessories on the figure's face, the fireflies, the fancy drinks, and so many other elements in the painting all play a part in feeling lightheaded. The striking color palette brings attention to the viewers with its unsteady yellow wall in the background, the vibrant purple braids on the figure, the unfinished dress, and the texture that is in the toilet and surrounding the figure.
Hop Online
"Hop Online," draws inspiration from my personal experiences with video games as a means of escaping reality. This theme also resonates with others in my life, both in high school and college. In the virtual world of video games, we can expect challenges, earn rewards, and enjoy special perks. We can control a lot of aspects of virtual reality. We can expect what's to come. With life, a lot of that is unknown and can be terrifying. I conveyed the sense of immersion in another reality by creating a black-and-white composition with hints of a desaturated blue in the background. The red screen symbolizes the intense focus on the game, whereas everything else that is not on the screen; becomes blurred or gray, fading into the background and no longer part of one's immediate reality.
The colorful fireflies ascending from the roof represent the figure realizing that it's time for them to change their habits for the better. In correlation, the figure looking directly at the viewer while crying with a dazed expression represents that moment of unhappiness in one’s life.
I've observed people who become completely absorbed in simulations, neglecting their studies, social etiquette, and daily responsibilities. Personally, I found solace in video games during the difficult time of my grandmother's passing in 2020. It provided a healing escape, as I connected with online friends and immersed myself in Minecraft for hours on end. However, over time, I began to awaken to the fact that there is a life beyond the screen, similar to the concept of a simulation game. It can be scary that life is unknown, but it presents its own set of challenges that can be very rewarding when people give their best effort.
“Numb Naps,” portrays how sleeping too much is a form of escapism. This fact is something I have personal experience with as well. When situations get tough, and we've cried all we can, sometimes all we want to do is simply sleep. Sleeping for as long as possible can shorten the days and temporarily reduce emotional pain. It's a way to avoid feeling emotions because you can't feel them if you're asleep all day. I still find myself guilty of doing this occasionally, and while it's okay to have bad days, it's not okay to stay in that state for a long time.
Numb Naps
In this piece, I chose specific colors in response to my other painting titled, “Too Much Fun.” I experimented with the light source and aimed to create a dramatic effect and warm effect. The skin color of the figure represents the warm feeling of taking a great nap. The blue satin-like bedding that the figure is engulfed in is purposely made to look inviting. Vibrant blues and oranges have a great relationship just like feeling cozy in bed and naps. I did not incorporate fireflies into this painting as I felt the piece did not need it. Fireflies will make a presence to help warn the figures that are too far from their reality. “Numb Naps” isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it's up to the viewer to determine how it can lead to feeling disconnected from reality. In my experience with napping, it is enjoyable, almost like a hobby. However, it can also lead to feeling stagnant in life. If you choose not to face your reality, problems, and don't seek solutions, it can become a way of avoiding life's challenges. Those challenges that people try hard to not face never go away. It always comes back in one way or another. It is up to the person to find solutions.
