September 17th - 29th, 2021
I am thrilled to announce my first solo show, "Inaquien," which will open this September at LCB Depot in Leicester. The name "Inaquien" is pronounced as "In – Ah – Kwee – en," and it's a word I created to represent the phrase "inner acquaintance." The exhibition showcases a collection of my imaginal, psychedelic, and vibrantly colourful paintings, all inspired by my personal experiences with altered states of consciousness.
As an artist, I've been deeply fascinated by the altered states induced by entheogens, leading me to ponder what it truly means to be human from an internal perspective. Questions like "What constitutes these altered states of consciousness?" and "Why can we experience different mental states beyond our day-to-day life or sleep?" have been at the core of my artistic exploration. There's a mysterious inner world that we glimpse in altered states or dreams, and various cultures have given it names like "sambhogakaya" in Tibetan Buddhism or "Al Malakut" in Islamic cosmology. Carl Gustav Jung, the renowned Swiss psychoanalyst, referred to it as the "collective symbolic unconscious." This interface between the physical and spiritual dimensions has been a recurring theme in art and philosophy throughout history.
Through my art, I engage with the realm of imagination, drawing on my intuition and past encounters with entheogens. I've identified four essential elements present in my experiences: energy, vitality, luminosity, and dimensionality. These elements have influenced my artistic approach, resulting in colourful, whimsical, and non-representational paintings. While some forms may seem recognisable, others appear otherworldly and ethereal, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination.
My hope for this exhibition is to invite you into the playground of imagination. As I created these paintings, my intention was to build worlds that serve as both imaginative playgrounds and sanctuaries for the soul that may inspire a sense of awe and wonder. I believe that art has the power to transport us to other dimensions and allow us to explore the depths of our consciousness. I'm excited to share this journey with you and encourage you to let your imagination run free as you delve into the vibrant world of "Inaquien."
>>>> PRESS RELEASE <<<<