Identity Through Form and Space

The objective of this exhibition is to document identity through form and space. The buildings or spaces that we interact with are a reflection of our values, routines, or choices we have. For the most part, I have communicated this theme through works of observation, however, as I delved more into the topic, I became comfortable deviating from this process and creating my own spaces and consequent narratives instead.

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Due to Covid-19, this exhibition is being presented in an online format which allows the work to be presented as a slideshow. This manner makes it so size doesn’t play much of a role in the arrangement of pieces. It is also the best fit for my exhibition because while some works have similar color schemes, there is a large disparity in both the types of colors and their inclusion which makes the display of all the works together visually unappealing. Further, this allows the work to be shown one by one according to their concepts. I have chosen to present my eight works starting with the ones that show my identity, then those depicting that of another subject, and finally ones where I’ve created identities. 

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The first three works, “Bedroom”, “Living Room,” and “Neighborhood” all display my identity through the spaces I interact with. Further, while accuracy is something I’ve strived for in all of my works, these three best represent this aim, a result of their mediums. I chose to begin with “Bedroom,” a charcoal drawing of my room for two reasons. Firstly, it was the first piece I made for this exhibition, so it defined many of the later works. Secondly, its meaning, your bedroom is a mirror of you, is straightforward and easily understood by the audience. Thus, it’s the best introduction to my exhibition. I chose “Living Room”  as my second piece because it is another depiction of my home life through the same medium, charcoal. So these pieces work well together both conceptually and visually. The third piece, “Neighborhood,” deviates from the lack of color established in the first two pieces and slightly shifts the approach to my theme, making the next shift less drastic. Whereas the other two works display my home’s interior, this color pencil drawing depicts a block on my way home. However, like the other two, it still gives insight into my daily routine and identity. 

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The fourth work, “Greek Home,” marks the beginning of the focus on other’s identities. Inspired by my visits to Greece, the work is a portrayal of the economic troubles of its people. The appearance of the home reflects the owners’ identity, routine, and economic status. I chose this work to appear next because it addresses residential life, conveying similar themes from the first three. The next work, “Astoria Carnival,” depicts the identity of a larger collective, Astoria, or even Queens. It shows a public space used by a large group of people, as well as how they’ve altered the space to fit their values, in this case, a carnival. In addition, The colorful painting looks best next to another colorful work like “Greek Home.” The last piece in this group is “Monastery.” This depiction of a Greek Monastery I visited addresses the role of religious spaces in the identity of the collective. These spaces are often serene and a source of comfort in communities.

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“Fabricated Spaces” and “Rewritten Narratives” the last two works in this exhibition, respectively, are the only works not done from observation. The collage, “Fabricated Spaces,” was created before “Rewritten Narratives,” and in fact served as its blueprint. For this reason, it has been placed first. In “Fabricated Spaces,” I aimed to create various settings which when the viewer perceives will prompt them to imagine a set group of people and a corresponding backstory that would fit the setting. In “Rewritten Narratives,” a series done through photoshop, each image is a combination of two different settings, a condensed city, and open space. Each of these is attributed a specific set of actions or narratives. So, when placed together a new story is given to space and the people who use it. This work also utilizes transparency to contrast the presented setting with the expected appearance of each part. For this reason, it also serves as a good ending because transparency is an idea seen within the first couple of works and sprinkled throughout the remainder of the exhibit, bringing the exhibition full circle.