Our place in the world: identity

As an ordinary teenager, I often find myself thinking about my place in the world among billions of diverse individuals. It’s a common problem that we all face, and it’s comparable to a journey with lots of different experiences and people that shape our lives: we’re always moving forward, but we never really reach a final destination since we can never fully understand ourselves. For me, art is the most incredible medium for exploring identity because it has the ability to tap into the deepest parts of our being, allowing us to communicate our emotions and experiences in ways that cannot be expressed in words. Art is a language that speaks to the soul, it captures our humanity and reveals all the aspects that make us unique and connect us with others. It’s a tool to examine our fears and desires, to celebrate our triumphs and mourn our losses; a conduit to explore the multifaceted essence of our identity, from cultural heritage, personal beliefs, values, gender expression and sexuality. This innate curiosity and my own drive to try and understand myself has led me to the title of this exhibition: “Research of One’s Identity Through the Arts”.

Due to the vastness of this subject, it’s possible to deconstruct it into diverse facets and components that amalgamate to give shape to an individual’s identity and character. The multifarious nature of identity encompasses a complex mosaic of unique attributes, convictions, principles, and life experiences, that ultimately combine to mold a reflection of their very existence. The manifestation of identity is thus shaped by a myriad of factors, spanning from physical appearance, ethnicity, culture, society, profession, gender, experiences, memories, and one’s perception of the world.

My main sources of influence for this exhibition were certain pivotal life experiences that caused me to evolve as an individual along with the environment I grew up in. It was extremely important for me to get inspired by my surroundings, more specifically, by people that like me are constantly making an effort of understanding their actions and purpose. I additionally did some research on other artists who have explored this theme to analyse and absorb as much as possible on how the search for one’s identity has been visually depicted in the past. I was particularly captivated by the work of Italian artist Piero Manzoni through his series of works titled “Imprints”, in which he used his own fingerprints as a form of artistic expression, Cindy Sherman’s photography often featuring herself in different personas and costumes, exploring themes of gender, and Frida Kahlo, who makes use of her work as a means of survival and communication of life experiences to the audience. I have also been heavily inspired by literature, particularly Sujata Bhatt’s “Search For My Tongue” and Pablo Neruda’s “Ode to the Artichoke”. Drawing on these diverse influences, I was able to create a body of work that reflects the complexities and nuances of identity.

Through this exhibition, I want to provide the viewer a place to actively engage with the artistic process and use it as a tool for self-exploration. Although most of the inspiration for my works comes from the exploration of my own identity, I want my art to serve as a catalyst for others to delve deep into their own minds. I wish to communicate that although identity is a crucial component of who we are, it’s normal to not fully understand ourselves since the human experience is a neverending journey of self-discovery and growth. The connection between the viewer and the art is crucial in this exhibition. By engaging with the art, the audience can initiate the exploration of the subtleties and complexities of their own identities and accept the notion that development and change are inevitable parts of self-discovery. My main goal is to enable the viewers to connect with their own identity and finally understand that it is a lifelong process of self-discovery that is distinct to each and every individual. I’m hoping that this exhibition will encourage people to keep exploring their own identities and to celebrate how endlessly changing and evolving they are.