The Spectecle of Self

This is an investigation into the confrontation with the absurd nature of self. It gives a brief glimpse into the grapple with existential angst, represented through the symbol of the duplicated self and the process of gradual emotional acceptance. Without contextualising where the character is coming from or where he is headed, I portray the emotional weight and struggle connected to the search for... 

The representation of the continued symbol of the replicated self in the icy landscape taken in the late blue hour, intends to evoke feelings of discomfort. Here I address the feelings of questioning self identity. The subject appears at a loss, looking around, questioning what direction to go. Where to go? What to do when faced with the uncertainty of existence? 

The mundane act of riding the metro portrays uncertainty present in everyday life. Where one would otherwise expect other passengers, I find myself, representing the omnipresence of the perceived absurdity of the human condition. Lost the sea of clones, the subject looks directly at the viewer, seemingly aware of his confusing reality. The only question that remains is: What is one to do now? Keep your composure or acknowledge absurdity head on?

I use the archetypal symbol of the endless ocean to convey unsettling feelings connected to the existential dread and the confrontation with the human condition. The absurdity of the depiction; the fully clothed character standing, stationary in the water, surrounded by duplicates, brings across surreal ambiguity. The conveyed ontological uncertainty is further portrayed through the blurred face of the subject, achieved through the use of a long exposure. 

Grungy Public Bathrooms. A place of quiet refuge. Amost solitude but not completely managing to hide form the Public Eye. 

Here one finds themself in a place of quiet reflection. 

The setting of the pier acts as a bridge to the ocean, headed towards the boundless unknown. There appears nowhere else to go but headlong into this existential uncertainty. Here, the use of the long exposure reinforces feelings of self deception, and unease about ourselves and our purpose. The outlook is unclear. Is true certainty ever within reach?

The choice to portray this self encounter in this tight confining alleyway, depicts the pressing desire for self understanding and certainly amidst existential angst. Here all the figures are moving in one direction, while the subject is turned around, facing the viewer. In this constant bustle of the fast-paced urban life, we rarely stop and reconsider where we are headed. 

In this piece I give a nod to the school of determinist thought, the belief that free will is an illusion. Here the subject appears to be falling into the sea of identical duplicates, losing any sense of individuality in this derelict wasteland. Amidst this conformity, the subject directly gazes at the viewer, the last thread of subjectivity. If we are merely the product of our surroundings, is purpose, certainty and freedom merely an illusion?