Artist Statement, Term 3 - Emergence BOW

Why do we, as human beings, expect nature around us to adapt to our ‘convenient’ lifestyle for nothing in return?

No matter how hard we try to repress, control or direct the life on this earth – it will always emerge. From the first organism invisible to the naked eye, to human beings, the one necessity we share for life is breath. We cannot control the natural world, nor can we develop a complete, logical explanation for where we came from. We can live our lives creating an artificial lifestyle, whilst subconsciously ignoring our deep connections to the earth, but we can never truly repress it. The natural world around us explores a multitude of phenomena completely underestimated by the human race. We become blinded by our own desperate search for individual significance, whilst the most significant things on earth are surrounding us. My body of work presents the idea that we are only small creatures on the land we live and no matter how much we try and construct life to what we see as convenient, it will always emerge from within… after all, life is irrepressible.

Another Idea

I have began looking deeper into the idea that people and animals are really on the earth for the same reason. Our lives are driven by our sexuality whether we realise it or not. In looking at this my images have transformed from a Lucid Dreaming concept to take on the idea of Hybrids as well. I have created a triptych conveying this idea, the images are closeups of the human body in vulnerable position, flaunting the purity of the skin through the movement of the body. I have then over-layed these images with a leopard print/snakeskin texture enhancing the Hybrid effect. This is where my work has gone...

Peacock Dress

I think this dress speaks exactly what i am studying. The sexuality of animals and how they have to be someone their not to be accepted sexually. This outfit is a work of art all by itself. It is a wedding dress which is implying that this woman is preparing herself for love and mate ship. The male Peacock shows it's beauty through its feathers to attract a mate. If he cannot present these to a female, he will not be accepted. This dress is creating a link between humans and the animal kingdom... we really aren't that different.

New Path

I have began looking deeper into the idea and psychology of the mask. I have started to play around with this idea in placing more masquerade masks on top of the images. In doing this I have also started looking deeper into the philosophy of birds. My focus is on the Anima and Animus and more particularly the front that people put forward to the world. An act or a character that isn't the real you. I have started by focusing on the Peacock as the male is acquired to fluff up their feathers to attract a female. It isn't the real them, but it is the only way they are accepted.

Lucid Dreaming

A lucid dream is a dream in which the sleeper is aware that she or he is dreaming. When the dreamer is lucid, she or he can actively participate in and often manipulate the imaginary experiences in the dream environment.

A dream state in which one is conscious enough to recognize that one is in the dream state and is then able to control dream events.

The phenomenon of being conscious and aware that one is dreaming, while one is in the process of dreaming.

A form of dreaming in which the conscious mind takes control over the contents of the dream

Tom Chambers

Tom Chambers has inspired me a lot. I love the lighting and colours in his images. His use of real landscapes with surreal situations is exactly the kind of thing that I love.

Greg Crewdson

Greg Crewdson focuses on the imperfections of a 1950's "Perfect Home". He visually discusses the secrets hidden in the walls and rumours brushed under the carpet. He unravels the secrets through camera angle, lighting and his very stage-like scenes.

Anima and Animus

Two final aspects of personality remain for consideration in regard to midlife development.

Jung postulates that each individual has both masculine and feminine components of the psyche. For a male the feminine component is the anima, and for a female it is the animus. Part and parcel of human biological and psychological development is this mixture of masculine and feminine energies.

These energies are theoretical constructs or concepts, which are useful for explanation but are not identical with gender. The separation of these concepts from gender is very difficult to maintain in the English language because of the similarity of words. Masculine energy and male and feminine energy and female seem to be the same but are not. The concepts may be better understood if viewed from a different context.

In Eastern cultures the Tao symbol with it’s Yin and Yang energies is expressive of the same idea. The Tao symbol, consisting of a circle divided in two equal portions each containing an element of the other, indicates that all of creation is composed of two energies held in harmony and interaction.

The Yang energy is masculine in nature and is described as light, dry, directed, focused, logical, and action oriented. Yin energy is feminine and described as dark, moist, diffuse, vague, intuitive, and receptive. In regard to psychological functioning, men are predominately yang but contain a yin aspect. Women, while predominately yin, contain an element of yang. Thus human beings are psychologicallyandrogynous with latent inner masculine and feminine energies awaiting development. In the first half of life a differentiation of the primary sexual identity and corresponding energy takes place but in later life a call to integrate the opposite energy, the anima or the animus, arises. This is a move towards wholeness.

At the most basic and simplistic level what happens is that men begin to develop their capacity for relationship and must come to terms with emotions, vulnerability, and needs while women begin to become more decision and action oriented and in the process claim their independence, courage, power and wisdom. At midlife women are called to decide and do while men are called to nurture.

This is process is seen in what Gail Sheehy in her book, Passages, refers to as the "switch forties". This is the time in midlife when men in the roles of husband and father begin a return to the values of home and family. They are drained from their years in the work world. At the same time that women as wives and mothers whose children are leaving home begin to experience a pull to the world of work. A switching of roles is taking place but may not be recognized as such.

A woman who has been in the care-taking role begins to want to establish her own independence through action and accomplishments. An impetus is provided to seeking employment, education, or career. At the same time a man had often has enough of work and career. He recognizes the stifling effect on his personal development. He now needs to open himself to relationships and emotions, but when he does, he finds no one at home. The children are now increasingly independent and on their way out of the family by way of work or college. His wife who may have eagerly sought his companionship when he was "too busy" now is after a business of her own. The potential for significant relationship conflict arises as these two people are crossing paths on different trajectories. They are moving towards the earlier interests of the other. Each person is in the process of integrating the opposite masculine or feminine energy. Men must incorporate the inner feminine with its call for relatedness while women must respond to the inner masculine and the need for action.

The anima and animus can influence a person in either a positive or negative manner. If a man is under the influence of the positive anima he will show tenderness, patience, consideration, and compassion. The negative anima manifests as vanity, moodiness, bitchiness, and sensitivity to hurt feelings. A woman with a positive animus shows assertiveness, control, thoughtful rationality, and compassionate strength. The negative animus reveals in strong opinions, ruthlessness, destructive forces, and "always the last word". Both men and women are on the path to their own integration and must struggle with the interpersonal ramifications of the anima and the animus.

http://www.lessons4living.com/anima_and_animus.htm

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The Three Graces

This image was just another photoshop practice.

Practise Photoshop

Petrina Hicks