MIMOSA PEDERSOLI

I began the course being inspired by the human body, in particular the different compositions that form systems with their respective shapes forms and textures. From this, my interests turned to learning how artists expressed a feeling of being ‘out of place’ through compositional devices, like juxtaposing contrasting elements in order to represent this, I have also drawn significant inspiration from famous artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. I used their studies and techniques to further develop my pieces, like Da Vinci’s precise crosshatching to form detailed anatomies of the human foot. This led me to target the anatomy of different body features including the bones and muscles of hands. This allowed me to understand the different proportions within the human body. I then decided to study and investigate different facial features and how their expressions are able to connote diverse emotions. I then introduced a new concept of destruction represented through the sharp geometric shapes. This was the result of one of the sculptures I was studying shattering. Through destruction I was able to create juxtaposition between the acute point of the geometric shapes and the smooth well-rounded edges of the human body. Through the integration of collages, I was able to create pieces influenced by my previous studies and works. I observed in detail artists such as Mona Hatoum and Yuichi Ikehata, which both focus on the destruction and dismantling of sculptures, linking to my initial idea of ‘out of place’. Overall, the IB has allowed me to cultivate my practical skills while focusing on ideas that have always intrigued me.

The concept behind my artwork was the mind. Through my artworks, I explored the myriad complexities of the human psyche, the conscious and the subconscious. I expressed this through my use of disparate compositions, warped forms and surreal imagery. Initially, my artwork was a more literal configuration of the brain, with depictions of different organic forms that resemble the organ, but it then transformed into a more abstract portrayal of the human psyche. Indeed, my initial works arose from the pursuit of scientific objectivity, such as observational studies, whilst the latest surfaced from the desire to capture a feeling, a mood, or a state of mind. As my journey progresses, one can see the subconscious slowly dominates the conscious, as experiences from the past, present and future appear in my paintings. This led me to look at Surrealism, analyzing artists such as Salvador Dalí and Yves Tanguy, as it sought a revolution against the constraints of the rational mind and brought to the surface subconscious thoughts. I slowly stepped away from the world that was visible in front of me, challenging the confines of the human mind, and connected with imaginary, fantasy and dream-like ideas in my own mind. For example, in Out the box, instances of Surrealism started to permeate the composition, most notably seen in the illogical array of forms and the birds in the reflection. I started to place greater emphasis on the “unreal” feeling for the viewer, attempting to represent things and concepts that are irrational and beyond the norm. Indeed, in my latest pieces, including Id, Ego, Super-ego and One Surrealist Day, the subconscious has overwhelmed the rational mind, seen with the imagery chosen and lively composition. Therefore, my exhibition revolves around the journey of a human in exploring and gaining a deeper understanding and harmony with their inner mind, until eventually reaching a state of enlightenment.