Curatorial Rationale

I wanted to prepare this culmination of work to explore the idea of the impact of confinement and isolation on individuals as well as the different ways it manifests. To do so, I employed the use of color, shape, and composition most significantly in an attempt to produce an overarching somber and lonely tone that would resonate with viewers. I also focused a heavy emphasis on the juxtaposition between light and dark and how that may present itself in situations of confinement.

 

In all of my pieces I used geometric shapes to represent hard, rigid edges and confinement, often surrounding the subjects to create a sense of entrapment as well as support the lonely tone. Additionally, all of my pieces contain subjects that are small, and seemingly meek, to signify the way isolation and entrapment can break a person down, whether it be something mentally that is hurting them or something being imposed on them from outside sources. Even more so, the ongoing pandemic influenced the way I presented these pieces as well because all over the world people have been negatively affected by the virus and quarantine. Human nature is communal and often relies on interacting with one another and now that we cannot do that, many people are trapped much like the subjects in my pieces. There is a range in all of the pieces as to how trapped and how confined each subject is; however, every single one is alone, furthering the isolation concept. 

 

Throughout this installment, I also use colors and their traditional symbolisms to support the concepts I am trying to convey. The juxtaposition between light and dark is extremely important in these pieces. Darkness is often representative of sadness, fear, the unknown, and discomfort, among other things. Lightness is associated with freedom, open space, growth, and happiness. These representations of darkness are extremely supportive of the ideas I am trying to cultivate in this collection, especially because it is not often that the subjects are in the light. When they are, their physicality is dark, to support the fact that not all entrapment comes from the outside. Sometimes, individuals who are seemingly free have their own internal struggles that are forcing them into a space of confinement and entrapment. 

 

In my exhibition, I have my work laid out from left to right and in a top to bottom sequence. The pieces that are side by side are meant to be the core narrative aspects of this collection because they follow the same style and they were created as a triptych. These pieces represent my concepts in the most basic, core senses by presenting subjects that either evade light, suffer in darkness while bathed in light, or, succumbing to the darkness and just accepting the defeat. The other pieces that fall below it in varying sequences are intentionally placed further apart, seeing as though being too close together would defeat the idea of isolation. Furthermore, the other pieces in the exhibition use varying colors and some seem less dark and somber. These pieces symbolize the unique experiences that individuals face, however everyone faces their specific breed of isolation in different areas and different ways. This is extremely significant because it denotes outward appearances, furthering the thought that everyone faces similar issues internally. Because of this it is extremely important that the base triptych is in the center but all of the different scenarios surround it, just not too close.

 

In conclusion, the presentation of all of the pieces in this exhibit is imperative for understanding because viewers need to be able to see the cohesive aspects such as the colors, composition, etc. but the concepts are more strongly supported with the most basic piece centered and all of the others surrounding it and seemingly bleeding from it because all individuals have different experiences and opportunities which is important to note. The space between all of the pieces is also significant because it is another method of presenting the concepts because it further visually stimulates the viewer and provides obvious evidence of the ideas being displayed.