The Duality of Escapism

Location

FA 203

Department

Art

Abstract

No matter who you are, how old you are, your standing on the social ladder, or what class you reside in financially, stress is a constant factor in everyone’s lives. With this stress comes ways for us humans to attempt to alleviate, soften, and cope with it in order to function properly in society. Our solutions? Escapism. Every single person has some sort of activity that helps them momentarily forget the troubles of the past and future and enjoy the moment in the now. Whether those activities are more recreational such as watching shows and playing games, to more physical labor such as gardening or playing sports, we each have a way to relax for a moment and enjoy ourselves. However, this escapism can be easily portrayed as a double-edged sword. The balance of these moments of peace is constantly fluctuating. Too much, and one can be lost in their own world and be led to a loss of self, both socially and mentally. On the other hand, not taking any time for stress-relief can lead to burnout. Due to these situations constantly needing to be balanced by one’s self at all times, escapism can be both a blessing, as well as a curse. My art pieces attempt to portray the fear, wonder, and in-between of escapism into physical form, showing the viewer of the delicate balance that can easily tip one way or another. Each piece embraces this idea of two-sided perspectives through the use of various three-dimensional layers incorporated in the art itself. Mounted onto walls, the direction the viewer chooses to look at the artwork will heavily change their experience with it. The artwork may look pleasant and uplifting from one angle, but it can quickly become dark and gloomy from another, giving both the sense of duality while also incorporating a form of interactivity.

Faculty Sponsor

Lauren Meranda, Northeastern Illinois University

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May 6th, 9:40 AM

The Duality of Escapism

FA 203

No matter who you are, how old you are, your standing on the social ladder, or what class you reside in financially, stress is a constant factor in everyone’s lives. With this stress comes ways for us humans to attempt to alleviate, soften, and cope with it in order to function properly in society. Our solutions? Escapism. Every single person has some sort of activity that helps them momentarily forget the troubles of the past and future and enjoy the moment in the now. Whether those activities are more recreational such as watching shows and playing games, to more physical labor such as gardening or playing sports, we each have a way to relax for a moment and enjoy ourselves. However, this escapism can be easily portrayed as a double-edged sword. The balance of these moments of peace is constantly fluctuating. Too much, and one can be lost in their own world and be led to a loss of self, both socially and mentally. On the other hand, not taking any time for stress-relief can lead to burnout. Due to these situations constantly needing to be balanced by one’s self at all times, escapism can be both a blessing, as well as a curse. My art pieces attempt to portray the fear, wonder, and in-between of escapism into physical form, showing the viewer of the delicate balance that can easily tip one way or another. Each piece embraces this idea of two-sided perspectives through the use of various three-dimensional layers incorporated in the art itself. Mounted onto walls, the direction the viewer chooses to look at the artwork will heavily change their experience with it. The artwork may look pleasant and uplifting from one angle, but it can quickly become dark and gloomy from another, giving both the sense of duality while also incorporating a form of interactivity.